Ofcom today announced that Sir Ian Cheshire has been appointed as the next Chair of Channel 4.
He will join the broadcaster’s Board on 11 April 2022, succeeding the interim Chair Dawn Airey.
Sir Ian was Group Chief Executive of Kingfisher plc from January 2008 to early 2015. Before that he was Chief Executive of B&Q from 2005.
He is currently Chair of Spire Healthcare plc, Chair of the environmental investment trust Menhaden plc, and a non-executive director of BT plc. He is also Chair of the Prince of Wales Charitable Fund, and of the Mental Health at Work Leadership Council.
Sir Ian has also served as Chair of Barclays UK, the British Retail Consortium, Debenhams plc and Maisons Du Monde SA, and as Senior Independent Director at Whitbread plc.
In public service, he was lead non-executive director at the Cabinet Office, he has chaired the Ecosystem Markets Task Force, the Economy Honours Committee and currently chairs the independent Food Farming and Countryside Commission. He has won a number of awards, including lifetime contributions to retailing, green business and the Fortune WEF award for leadership in the circular economy.
Sir Ian was knighted in the 2014 New Year Honours for services to business, sustainability and the environment and is a Chevalier of the Ordre National du Merite of France.
Sir Ian’s appointment for a three-year term has been approved by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Rt. Hon. Nadine Dorries MP.
I am delighted to approve Sir Ian Cheshire to be the new chair of Channel 4. 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.
Nadine Dorries
Sir Ian is a terrific appointment for Channel 4. He has a distinguished track record in both public and private service, and will ensure the highest standards of governance and accountability as a hugely experienced Chair of other major boards.
I would like to thank Dawn Airey for serving so brilliantly as Channel 4’s interim Chair since January, and Charles Gurassa for his excellent six years of service before that.
Maggie Carver, Ofcom’s interim Chair
I am excited to be joining Channel 4 at this vitally important time for public service broadcasting. As it transforms for a new era of media consumption, I look forward to helping Channel 4 deliver for viewers right across the UK for many years to come.
Sir Ian
NOTES
Ofcom is required under the Broadcasting Act 1990 to appoint non-executive members to the Channel 4 Board, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State.
Ofcom will move to appoint two additional non-executive directors to the Channel 4 Board in the coming months. The appointment process will give regard to increasing diversity on the Board.