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30|04|08

Martin Donnelly joins Ofcom

Martin Donnelly, Director General Europe and Globalisation at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, is to join Ofcom on secondment as Senior Partner responsible for Ofcom’s international work and its activities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Donnelly replaces Ian Hargreaves, who is joining the Foreign Office as Director of Strategic Communications.

Donnelly’s responsibilities will also include Ofcom’s contribution to the switch from analogue to digital television and the regulator’s secretariat and corporate governance functions.

Ed Richards, Ofcom’s Chief Executive, said: “Ian has made a unique contribution to Ofcom, first as one of our founding non-executive board members and more recently in an executive role. We wish him well in his new role.

“Martin’s background in the Treasury, Foreign Office, Brussels and the Northern Ireland Office make him ideally qualified to lead Ofcom’s increasingly important work in Europe and in the UK nations. We are delighted to welcome someone of such high calibre to the Ofcom leadership team.”

Martin Donnelly commented: “I am delighted to be joining Ofcom's senior management team. I know from my work in the Foreign Office that Ofcom is recognised as a global leader in communications regulation, with high quality people and a clear mission. I am looking forward to using my UK government and international experience to help Ofcom continue to deliver effectively in a rapidly changing world.”

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NOTES TO EDITORS

1. Martin Donnelly has been an executive member of the FCO Board since March 2004, with responsibility for 640 staff, a £140 million budget and the strategic management of UK posts in 66 countries. As FCO Director General for Globalisation, he supervises the Africa, Asia-Pacific, Migration and Global & Economic Issues Directorates. He leads FCO work on the G8 and policy issues including energy, trade, climate security and business strategy. He chairs the FCO's Human Resources Committee. Martin has wide experience of government and international issues: A range of senior posts in HM Treasury covering exchange rate, defence and European economic and financial issues; European Commission (Cabinet of Leon Brittan) responsible for work to set up the European internal market in financial services; Secondment to the French Finance Ministry managing government debt products; Deputy Head Cabinet Office European Secretariat (1997-2003), coordinating UK policy on European economic and business issues and developing the Lisbon economic reform agenda; Policy Director and Board Member Immigration & Nationality Directorate, Home Office (2003-2004) dealing with asylum and migration. Martin studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford, International Economics at the College of Europe, Bruges, and Government at the Ecole Nationale d'Administration, Paris.

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