Rona Fairhead to stand down as chair of BBC after being told ‘she would have to re-apply for role’
Ms Fairhead was reappointed in 2014 after a private meeting with Cameron
RONA Fairhead is to stand down as chair of the BBC after Prime Minister Theresa May ordered a re-run of the process to find a new head of the corporation.
Ms Fairhead was told yesterday afternoon that she would have to reapply for the role given to her by David Cameron but after “much thought” had decided not to re-enter the process.
In a statement she said: “I took on leadership of the Trust to help stabilise, strengthen and develop the BBC following a very difficult period in its history and through Charter Review.
“I am proud of what I and my colleagues, both at the Trust and the BBC, have accomplished during the past two years."
She added: “The Prime Minister strongly encouraged me to take part in the new appointment process, for what would be a new four-year term as BBC chairman.
“However after much thought I have come to the conclusion that I should not do so; it is my belief that it will be better to have a clean break and for the government to appoint someone new.”
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She will remain in post as chair of the BBC Trust until the body is scrapped in early 2017 and replaced by a new unitary board, part of the government’s charter review.
Critics had been unhappy at the time of Ms Fairhead’s reappointment in 2014, which was carried out after a private meeting with Mr Cameron.