Ofcom Board

Historically, the regulatory regimes for broadcasting, telecommunications and spectrum management have encompassed a broad range of governance models.

These have included oversight by Government-appointed Commission, by Director-General and by Government Agency.

Ofcom's governance structure is different. It is based upon a model which is familiar to the commercial sector but which marks a departure from the past.

Ofcom has a Board with a Chairman and both executive and non-executive members. The Executive runs the organisation and answers to the Board, while the work of both Board and Executive is informed by the contribution of a number of advisory bodies.

The Ofcom Board provides strategic direction for Ofcom. It is the main statutory instrument of regulation with a fundamental role in the effective implementation of the Communications Act 2003.

The Board is chaired by Lord Burns. Its membership is published. There are up to nine additional members, including the Chief Executive of Ofcom and up to three members of the Executive.

The Ofcom Board meets at least once a month (with the exception of August). Agendas and notes of meetings are published regularly on the Ofcom website.

The Board has a central governance function, with oversight over the fulfilment of Ofcom's general duties and specific statutory responsibilities as well as its adherence to the ethos of a public service organisation. The Board also has oversight of Ofcom's overall funding and expenditure.

The Board acts on a collective basis. As the body charged with governing Ofcom's strategic direction, the Board has agreed that its members will abide by the following principles:

1. The Board will operate on the principles of collective responsibility, support and respect.
2. Board members should have access to all the information necessary to ensure vigorous debate and effective decision-making.
3. In all situations, all Board members will be deemed to have agreed with all decisions.
4. External pressure will not alter Board processes except for potential timelines.
5. Board members' behaviour in response to decisions is required to be the same inside and outside Ofcom.
6. Minority views will not be made public internally or externally.
7. Nominated Board members (other than those who disagreed with a decision) may be required to explain and articulate specific decisions.
8. If a Board member resigns he or she may state the basis for the disagreement, but may not publicly rehearse the arguments of other Board members.

The Board provides strategic direction for the performance of Ofcom’s regulatory functions by reference to its statutory duties and has overall responsibility for financial and operational matters.

The Board may take any decision it considers it is appropriate to be taken by the Board notwithstanding the delegations approved by the Board through the Delegations Framework. The delegations in the delegations framework are also subject to the reservation of the following matters to the Board:

a) approval of Ofcom's annual budget, overall financial policy and Financial Authorities Framework;

b) approval of Ofcom's annual report and accounts;

c) approval of any contract value in excess of £5,000,000;

d) approval of Ofcom's annual plan, long term objectives and overall strategic policy framework;

e) undertaking a formal regular review of the Board’s own performance and that of Board committees;

f) approval of terms of reference of Board committees;

g) approval of appointments and remuneration of Non-Executive members to Board committees;

h) Approval of appointments of non-executive members of the Channel Four Board (subject to the formal approval of the Secretary of State) and decisions as to the number of members of the Channel Four Board; and

i) Decisions concerning appointments to MG Alba (the Gaelic Media Service)

Approved by the Ofcom Board, 24 May 2016

The Board is scheduled to meet on the following dates. (Meetings to be held at Ofcom's offices in London unless otherwise indicated.)

2018

16 January 2018

27 February 2018

20 March 2018

17 April 2018

22 May 2018

19 June 2018

17 July 2018

18 September 2018

2 October 2018

13 November 2018

11 December 2018

Meeting of the Ofcom Board to be held 19 June 2018 (PDF, 63.4 KB)

12|06|18

Meeting of the Ofcom Board to be held 22 May 2018 (PDF, 10.6 KB)

15|05|18

Meeting of the Ofcom Board to be held 17 April 2018 (PDF, 60.7 KB)

11|04|18

Meeting of the Ofcom Board to be held 20 March 2018 (PDF, 13.1 KB)

14|03|18

Meeting of the Ofcom Board to be held 27 February 2018 (PDF, 10.8 KB)

20|02|18

Meeting of the Ofcom Board to be held 16 January 2018 (PDF, 10.9 KB)

10|01|18

Meeting of the Ofcom Board to be held 13 December 2017 (PDF, 116.5 KB)

04|11|17

Meeting of the Ofcom Board to be held 14 November 2017 (PDF, 110.1 KB)

06|11|17

Meeting of the Ofcom Board to be held 17 October 2017 (PDF, 10.9 KB)

11|10|17

Meeting of the Ofcom Board to be held 19 September 2017 (PDF, 109.6 KB)

13|07|17

Meeting of the Ofcom Board to be held 18 July 2017 (PDF, 115.3 KB)

11|07|17

Meeting of the Ofcom Board to be held 13 June 2017 (PDF, 76.9 KB)

06|05|17

Meeting of the Ofcom Board to be held 5 June 2017 (PDF, 13.7 KB)

31|05|17

Meeting of the Ofcom Board to be held 16 May 2017 (PDF, 76.9 KB)

15|05|17

Meeting of the Ofcom Board to be held 11 April 2017 (PDF, 74.6 KB)

05|04|17

Meeting of the Ofcom Board to be held 14 March 2017 (PDF, 11.7 KB)

08|03|17

Meeting of the Ofcom Board to be held 9 March 2017 (PDF, 15.9 KB)

09|03|17

Meeting of the Ofcom Board to be held 22 February 2017 (PDF, 67.9 KB)

14|02|17

Meeting of the Ofcom Board to be held 13 December 2016 (PDF, 13.5 KB)

07|12|16

Meeting of the Ofcom Board, to be held on 15 November 2016 (PDF, 11.3 KB)

10|11|16

Meeting of the Ofcom Board, to be held on 18 October 2016 (PDF, 11.4 KB)

11|10|16

Meeting of the Ofcom Board, to be held on 20 September 2016 (PDF, 11.4 KB)

15|09|16

Meeting of the Ofcom Board, to be held on 21 July 2016 (PDF, 26.7 KB)

20|07|16

Meeting of the Ofcom Board, to be held on 19 July 2016 (PDF, 13.3 KB)

12|07|16

Minutes of the Ofcom Board, to be held on 21 June 2016 (PDF, 26.7 KB)

15|06|16

Minutes of the Ofcom Board, to be held on 24 May 2016 (PDF, 29.2 KB)

18|05|16

Meeting of the Ofcom Board, to be held on 19 April 2016 (PDF, 13.1 KB)

13|04|16

Meeting of the Ofcom Board, to be held on 15 March 2016 (PDF, 13.7 KB)

09|03|16

Meeting of the Ofcom Board, to be held on 26 February 2016 (PDF, 9.1 KB)

09|03|16

Meeting of the Ofcom Board, to be held on 16 February 2016 (PDF, 10.1 KB)

10|02|16

Meeting of the Ofcom Board, to be held on 19 January 2016 (PDF, 13.0 KB)

12|01|16

For all other past agendas, please visit the National Archive.

Note of the 252nd Meeting of the Ofcom Board, held on 22 May 2018 (PDF, 189.4 KB)

13|06|18

Note of the 251st Meeting of the Ofcom Board, held on 17 April 2018 (PDF, 180.6 KB)

16|05|18

Note of the 250th Meeting of the Ofcom Board, held on 20 March 2018 (PDF, 139.5 KB)

18|04|18

Note of the 249th Meeting of the Ofcom Board, held on 27 February 2018 (PDF, 140.8 KB)

21|03|18

Note of the 248th Meeting of the Ofcom Board, held on 16 January 2018 (PDF, 501.4 KB)

17|01|18

Note of the 247th Meeting of the Ofcom Board, held on 13 December 2017 (PDF, 138.9 KB)

16|01|18

Note of the 246th Meeting of the Ofcom Board, held on 14 November 2017 (PDF, 139.4 KB)

14|12|17

Minutes of the 245th Meeting of the Ofcom Board, held on 17 October 2017 (PDF, 191.4 KB)

16|05|18

Minutes of the 244th Meeting of the Ofcom Board, held on 19 September 2017    (PDF, 197.9 KB)

16|05|18

Minutes of the 243rd Meeting of the Ofcom Board, held on 18 July 2017 (PDF, 135.3 KB)

07|02|18

Minutes of the 242nd Meeting of the Ofcom Board, held on 13 June 2017 (PDF, 372.4 KB)

27|06|17

Minutes of the 241st Meeting of the Ofcom Board, held on 5 June 2017 (PDF, 341.3 KB)

27|06|17

Minutes of the 240th Meeting of the Ofcom Board, held on 16 May 2017 (PDF, 373.0 KB)

21|11|17

Minutes of the 239th Meeting of the Ofcom Board, held on 11 April 2017 (PDF, 232.0 KB)

21|11|17

Minutes of the 238th Meeting of the Ofcom Board, held on 14 March 2017 (PDF, 399.5 KB)

12|02|17

Minutes of the 237th Meeting of the Ofcom Board, held on 9 March 2017 (PDF, 252.6 KB)

12|02|17

Minutes of the 236th Meeting of the Ofcom Board, held on 22 February 2017     (PDF, 230.2 KB)

23|02|17

Minutes of the 235th Meeting of the Ofcom Board, held on 17 January 2017    (PDF, 222.3 KB)

23|02|17

Note of the 234th Meeting of the Ofcom Board, held on 13 December 2016   (PDF, 31.2 KB)

17|01|17

Minutes of the 233rd Meeting of the Ofcom Board, held on 15 November 2016 (PDF, 30.9 KB)

20|06|17

Minutes of the 232nd Meeting of the Ofcom Board, held on 18 October 2016 (PDF, 30.6 KB)

20|06|17

Minutes of the 231st Meeting of the Ofcom Board, held on 20 September 2016 (PDF, 148.7 KB)

18|10|16

Minutes of the 230th Meeting of the Ofcom Board, held on 21 July 2016 (PDF, 125.4 KB)

07|02|17

Minutes of the 229th Meeting of the Ofcom Board, held on 19 July 2016 (PDF, 157.1 KB)

07|02|17

Minutes of the 228th Meeting of the Ofcom Board, held on 21 June 2016 (PDF, 157.0 KB)

20|07|16

Minutes of the 227th Meeting of the Ofcom Board, 24 May 2016 (PDF, 160.9 KB)

21|06|16

Minutes of the 226th Meeting of the Ofcom Board, 19 April 2016 (PDF, 20.3 KB)

17|10|16

Minutes of the 225th Meeting of the Ofcom Board, 15 March 2016 (PDF, 24.0 KB)

17|10|16

Minutes of the 224th Meeting of the Ofcom Board, 26 February 2016 (by telephone) (PDF, 7.7 KB)

17|10|16

Minutes of the 223rd Meeting of the Ofcom Board, 16 February 2016 (PDF, 28.9 KB)

16|03|16

Minutes of the 222nd Meeting of the Ofcom Board, London, 19 January 2016 (PDF, 34.9 KB)

17|02|16

Terry Burns is a Special Adviser to Banco Santander SA and Vice Chairman of the Hay Festival of Literature and Arts Ltd. He is a former Chief Economic Advisor and Permanent Secretary to HM Treasury, Chairman of Santander UK plc, Channel Four Television, Marks and Spencer plc and Welsh Water, and an Independent Adviser to the Secretary of State on the BBC Charter Review. Terry is also Chairman of the Mid Wales Music Trust, Vice President of the Royal Academy of Music.

In 1998 Terry was appointed to the House of Lords as a life peer and sits as a cross bencher. He is a member of the Economic Affairs Committee and is the Chair of the Lord Speaker's committee on the size of the House. For more information, see Parliament.UK.

Sharon White took over as Chief Executive of Ofcom in March 2015.

Before joining Ofcom Sharon had a long career in the civil service.

She was second Permanent Secretary at the Treasury, responsible for overseeing the public finances.

Before that she held Board level positions at the Ministry of Justice and the Department for International Development.

She has worked as a civil service adviser at the Prime Minister's Policy Unit and in Washington DC as a senior economist at the World Bank.

Sharon is a trained economist and studied at Cambridge University and  University College London.

Steve Unger was appointed to the Ofcom Board in April 2015. He has been with Ofcom since its inception, and has held a variety of senior roles.

Before joining Ofcom, Steve worked in industry - for two technology startups, both of whom designed and operated their own communications networks, and as a consultant advising a variety of other companies on the commercial application of new wireless technologies. He has a Physics MA and a PhD in Astrophysics.

Graham Mather was appointed to the Ofcom Board with effect from 1 June 2014. He is a member of Ofcom's Nations Committee, Nominations Committee, Remuneration Committee and Risk and Audit Committee.

Graham Mather was a member of Ofcom's Consumer Panel from 2004 to 2008. He served as a member of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission and, between 2000 and 2012, was also member of the Competition Appeal Tribunal, the body that deals with appeals from the UK regulators. Graham is currently the President of the European Policy Forum and Chairman of its Regulatory Best Practice Group. Graham is a member of the Board of the Office of Rail and Road.

He was appointed CBE in the Queen’s 2017 Birthday Honours list for services to economic regulation, competition and infrastructure development.

Jonathan Oxley joined Ofcom as Group Director, Competition in November 2014 and was appointed to the Ofcom Board in January 2015.

Prior to joining Ofcom, Jonathan was a Partner in PwC's Strategy and Economics practice, specialising in telecoms, media and technology.

After graduating from the University of the West of England, Jonathan joined BT as a graduate trainee manager, where he stayed for eight years before moving to Metropolitan Fibre Systems (Verizon). He joined PwC in 1995, becoming Partner in 2006, where he advised a number of global telecoms companies.

Ben has 30 years' experience in running major telecoms, technology and media companies in executive and non-executive roles. He is currently a General Partner at investment fund Keen Venture Partners and holds various Board positions, including Akamai in the US and mobile operator Bharti Airtel in India.

Ben is a former Chief Executive of BT, KPN in the Netherlands and Alcatel Lucent, and has served as a Chairman of Endemol.

Tim Suter was appointed to the Ofcom Board with effect from 2 October 2017. He is currently Interim Chairman of the Content Board, Chairman of the Nations Committee, and a member of the Remuneration Committee and Nominations Committee.

Tim Suter was a BBC producer, editor and senior manager for 15 years, working across television, radio and on-line and in genres as diverse as drama, documentary and current affairs.

In 2002 he was appointed Head of Broadcasting Policy in the Department for Culture Media and Sport, responsible for the Communications Act of 2003 that overhauled the policy approach to the converging industries of media and telecommunications and included the creation of the converged regulator, Ofcom.

Tim joined Ofcom at its inception in 2003 as the founding Partner for Content and Standards, overseeing the regulation of all broadcast content, the development of policy and its implementation. After five years at Ofcom, Tim left to found Perspective Associates, advising media companies, governments and regulators on media policy and regulation. As well as working with major international media companies across the UK, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, Tim has also been a special advisor to the House of Lords Communications Committee, and the chair of an expert panel advising the Council of Europe of the governance of Public Service Media.

Bob Downes is the current chairman of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and of CENSIS, an innovation centre for sensors and imaging systems. Bob is a trustee of the Mackintosh Campus Renewal Appeal for Glasgow School of Art, and an advisor to a number of small technology businesses. Formerly he was a senior executive with BT Group.