FT Editor Tipped To Replace Bland As BBC Chairman

The international editor of the Financial Times is to resign his post later this week and step in as chairman of the BBC, according to US press speculation.

The New York Post has reported that Richard Lambert, who has edited the paper for 10 years, is expected to resign in the next few weeks and take over from Christopher Bland who is quitting his position to go to BT (see Bland To Step Down From BBC Chairman Role).

A spokesperson for the FT, today declined to comment, dismissing reports as “pure speculation”. The Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS), who will be appointing Bland’s replacement, also refused to comment, saying only “We have advertised the post and are seeing who replies.”

The New York Post names Robert Thomson, head of the paper’s US operation, Philip Stephens, the UK Editor and Andrew Gowers, FT Deutschland’s managing director, as possible successors to Lambert.

BBC: 020 8743 8000 www.bbc.co.uk DCMS: 020 7211 6200 www.culture.gov.uk Financial Times: 0207 873 3000 www.ft.com

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