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05|10|06

Ofcom Board Appoints Ed Richards as Chief Executive Officer

The Ofcom Board today announced it had appointed Ed Richards as Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect.

Ed Richards joined the Ofcom Board in March 2003. In July 2005 he was promoted to Chief Operating Officer, in which role his responsibilities included strategy, research, consumer policy, business planning, finance, human resources and Ofcom’s functions in the Nations and Regions.

Prior to his appointment to Ofcom, Ed was the Prime Minister’s Senior Policy Advisor on Media, Telecoms, Internet and e-Government. Before that he was Controller of Corporate Strategy at the BBC. He also worked in consulting at London Economics Ltd.

Ofcom Chairman David Currie said: "Ed has played a critically important role in the establishment of Ofcom. He has a profound understanding of the markets we regulate and is ideally placed to lead the organisation into the future."

Ed Richards said: "This is a fascinating job in a fascinating and fast changing area. We have a strong organisation, committed people and a track record that we intend to build on. I am thoroughly looking forward to the challenges.”

Notes for Editors and CSEs

Under the Office of Communications Act 2002, the Chief Executive of Ofcom is a public appointment made by the Ofcom Board, involving an independent assessor and subject to approval by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

The executive search process began in June 2006 and was led by Jan Hall of JCA Group. The post was advertised nationally and a number of external and internal candidates were interviewed.

Ofcom is the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio, telecommunications and wireless communications services.

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