Clementi confirmed as BBC chairman

David Clementi has been confirmed as the next chairman of British public broadcaster the BBC.

The UK government has confirmed the former deputy governor of the Bank of England as its preferred candidate a day after news of his imminent appointment broke locally.

He will in effect replace Rona Fairhead, who is chairman of the BBC Trust that Clementi recommended in a report last year should be shut down. UK media regulator Ofcom will replace the BBC Trust as the BBC’s watchdog in April.

Clementi will now appear before a Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee for a pre-appointment scrutiny session on January 17, before the Queen ratifies the hire.

He will lead a new-look BBC board, comprising 14 members, including ten non-executive and four executive personnel.

The BBC remains under huge pressure to reduce costs and slash its budget, but government culture secretary Karen Bradley claimed the latest Charter agreement, which sets spending and editorial guidelines and cam into effect on January 1, would “secure the future of the BBC, strengthen it and give it an unprecedented degree of independence”.

Bradley added Clementi would “provide the strong leadership necessary for the BBC to remain the world’s best broadcaster”.

“The BBC is a world class broadcaster and one of the UK’s most beloved and cherished institutions,” said Clementi. “It would be a great honour to join the BBC at an important time in the organisation’s history.”

BBC director general Tony Hall released a short statement, saying: “I am delighted that Sir David Clementi has been announced as the preferred candidate. I am really looking forward to working with him.”