Ofcom has announced that businessman Sir Ian Cheshire will be the next chair of Channel 4 and will join the board with a three-year term on 11 April.
He was previously chief executive of home improvement company Kingfisher from 2008 to 2015 after holding the same role at its subsidiary, DIY chain B&Q, from 2005.
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said: “Sir Ian has an impressive record at the helm of some of Britain’s biggest businesses and I am confident his proven leadership will help Channel 4 go from strength to strength and ensure it thrives long into the future amid a time of rapid change for the sector.”
However The Observer reported that broadcast veterans including ex-Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow and ex-Channel 4 head of news Dorothy Byrne had raised concerns of cronyism over the appointment, which comes as the channel faces potential privatisation.
Snow said: “I can’t believe the government has time to think about the privatisation of Channel 4 now, but unfortunately that seems to be the drift. Sir Ian would have to have no interest in broadcasting to be in favour of privatisation. So let’s hope he does have an interest in it.”
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