Government officials initiate search for replacement for Ofcom chairperson Lord Grade
New Hunt for Ofcom Chair Kicks Off
It's time to find a new leader for the communications regulator as Lord Grade of Yarmouth gears up to call it quits following a solitary term at the helm. Sources tell us that the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) - the new Whitehall division in charge of overseeing Ofcom - is working on proposals to launch a recruitment process in the near future.
Lord Grade, a broadcasting veteran who held top posts at the BBC, ITV, and Channel 4, has been serving as Ofcom chair since May 2022. Although his four-year term won't end for another 11 months, there's little speculation that he'll pursue another term.
His appointment in 2022 stirred controversy and was approved by Nadine Dorries, the former Tory culture secretary at the time[4]. Responsibility for appointing Ofcom's board members has since shifted from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Insights:- Lord Grade's term: Lord Grade's term as Ofcom chair is set to end in April 2026.- Recruitment process: The recruitment process for Lord Grade's successor is expected to start soon, with the government aiming to avoid the delays encountered during Lord Grade's appointment process, which took two years.
Dig Deeper:
- TikTok unveiling initiatives to prevent late-night doomscrolling among teens[5]
- Ofcom proposing new codes of practice to protect children online[6]
- Suicide forum under Ofcom's investigation under new online safety laws[7]
More on Ofcom- Ofcom dealing with online harms: The search for a new Ofcom chair will take place following the extension of its remit to tackle online harms.
In addition to its role in regulating media companies like Royal Mail and the BBC, and appointing Channel 4's board of directors, Ofcom also regulates the UK telecoms industry, making it one of the largest economic regulators in the UK[1].
This week, Ofcom announced it would take action against Royal Mail for its failure to meet statutory delivery targets[1]. The body may also gain regulatory control over the fast-growing data center industry[1].
Key Figures:- Peter Kyle, the science secretary, authorized Tamara Ingram, an advertising industry stalwart, as Ofcom's deputy chair last November[4].- It remains unclear whether any current Ofcom board members might take over from Lord Grade[4]. Ben Verwaayen, the former BT Group chief executive, is due to leave the Ofcom board at the end of this year[4].
Upcoming Changes:The hunt for the next Ofcom chair comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves push for reforms to simplify Britain's economic regulators[1]. DSIT has been contacted for comment, while Ofcom declined to comment[1].
The upcoming recruitment process for the new Ofcom chair, scheduled to start shortly, will involve selecting a leader to fill Lord Grade's position, whose term as Ofcom chair, overseeing media and telecoms industries, is expected to end in April 2026. Simultaneously, Ofcom is also dealing with new codes of practice to protect children online, including investigating a suicide forum, while navigating the complexities of the fast-evolving technology sector, such as the potential regulatory control over data centers and the need to address online harms like late-night doomscrolling among teens.
