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07|04|06

Ofcom Board

Against the background of a number of changes in recent months to the composition of the Ofcom Board - including the appointment of a new Deputy Chairman, Non-Executive Director and Executive Director - Ofcom today announced that Sara Nathan and Ian Hargreaves have been reappointed with immediate effect as Non-Executive Directors of the Ofcom Board.

The reappointments, by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Tessa Jowell and by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Alan Johnson, recognise Sara Nathan and Ian Hargreaves’ ongoing contribution to Ofcom’s work and provide a necessary level of continuity after a period of change on the Board.

Sara Nathan’s reappointment will end on 31 December 2007 and Ian Hargreaves’ reappointment will end on 31 December 2008.

Ofcom Chairman David Currie said: "Sara’s substantial track record and expertise in media and regulation combined with Ian’s insight and relevant background are of real value to the Board. I am delighted we will continue to benefit from their knowledge and experience across the range of Ofcom’s activities.”

Board Committee changes

Sara Nathan will stand down as Deputy Chairman of the Content Board – the committee of the main Ofcom Board with delegated responsibility for content issues – having played a leading role over the last three years in the successful establishment of the Content Board as Ofcom’s primary forum for the regulation of television and radio quality and standards.

Ofcom Board Non-Executive Director Millie Banerjee will join the Content Board in addition to her current main Board responsibilities.

Additionally, Ofcom also announced today a number of changes to the Content Board. These are set out in a separate news release which can be found online at http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2006/04/nr_20060407

Background

Ofcom is an independent statutory corporation accountable to Parliament. The Ofcom Board provides strategic direction for the organisation, with a Non-Executive Chairman and Deputy Chairman, four Non-Executive Directors and four Executive Directors including the Chief Executive Officer.

Non-Executive Directors of the Ofcom Board (including the Chair and Deputy Chair) are appointed jointly by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, under the provisions of the Office of Communications Act 2002.

NOTES FOR EDITORS AND CSEs

1. Sara Nathan was appointed to the Ofcom Board in September 2002 on a four year term, now extended for an additional 15 months. She currently occupies several non-executive positions including Chair, Animal Procedures Committee; Member, Judicial Appointments Commission; Member of the Regulatory Decisions Committee of the Financial Services Authority; and Member of the premium rate services regulator, ICSTIS. Her previous appointments include Editor, Channel 4 News at ITN (1995-97); Editor, The Magazine Radio 5 Live (1993-95); Chief Assistant to the Editor of News and Current Affairs, Radio 4 (1992-93) and Member of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

2. Ian Hargreaves was appointed to the Ofcom Board in December 2002 on a four year term, now extended for an additional two years. In January 2003, he took up a new position as Group Director, Corporate and Public Affairs at BAA plc, but has retained his position as Professor of Journalism at Cardiff University. He is a former chairman of Demos, and was a member of the Chancellor's Social Investment Task Force. Previous appointments include Editor, New Statesman (1996-98); Editor, the Independent (1994-96); Deputy Editor, Financial Times (1990-94) and Director of News and Current Affairs, BBC (1987-90). His most recent book is Journalism: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2005).

3. Millie Banerjee was appointed to the Ofcom Board in September 2002 on a five year term. She is National Chair of The Consumer Council for Postal Services (Postwatch), Chair of the Carnegie UK Trust and a Member of the Advisory Board of the Tanaka Imperial College Business School. Previously she spent 25 years with BT (1970-1995), culminating at Director level in BT Products and Services Division, followed by Senior Vice President ICO Global Communications (1995-2000). She has been a member of the Strategy Board of the Cabinet Office (1998-2005). She has held several non-executive board appointments including: Channel 4 (2000-2002); the Strategic Rail Authority (2000-2005); the Sector Skills Development Agency (2002-2004);); the Prisons Board (1990-1995); a Board Member of Focus (1994-1998); and a member of the governing body of South Bank University (1993-1997).

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