Prof Dame Elan Closs Stephens has been appointed acting chair of the BBC, the government has announced, after Richard Sharp resigned from the position following a report that found he breached the governance code for public appointments.
In April, Sharp stepped down as chair of the corporation after being found to have broken the rules by failing to disclose he played a role in getting the then prime minister, Boris Johnson, an £800,000 loan guarantee.
On Friday, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport announced Stephens would lead the BBC board from 27 June for 12 months, or until a new permanent chair had been appointed, whichever was sooner.
Stephens has been a member of the BBC’s governing body since 2010, first serving as member for Wales on the BBC Trust and then as the Welsh member of the BBC board.
After her appointment, Stephens said: “It’s a huge honour to be appointed by the secretary of state as acting chair and I am grateful to my fellow board members for putting their trust in me.
“As a board, we will champion the licence fee-payer across all of the UK; ensure the BBC is a vital partner for the UK creative industries; maintain trust and drive change to make the BBC fit for a fast changing media landscape.
“There is much work to be done.”
