Richard Hooper Joins Ofcom As Deputy Chairman

Radio Authority chairman, Richards Hooper, has been appointed deputy chairman of the Government’s new communications super-regulator, Ofcom.

Hooper, who missed out on the job of chairman following the appointment of Lord Currie of Marylebone earlier this year (see Lord Currie To Chair New Communications Regulator) is one of five new non-executive appointments to the Ofcom board. Others include David Edmonds, director-general of Oftel and Millie Banerjee, non-executive director of Channel 4.

Following a recommendation from Lord Puttman to extend the size of the board, the Government also proposes to appoint Ian Hargreaves, professor of journalism studies at Cardiff University, at a later stage.

Led by Lord Currie the board will oversee the creation of the new independent regulatory body for the broadcasting and telecommunications sector (see Communications Bill Lays Down OFCOM Framework). Ofcom will combine the responsibility of the existing five regulators and once established will oversee the regime set out in the Government’s draft Communications Bill (see Draft Communications Bill Relaxes Cross Media Rules).

Commenting on the appointments, Lord Currie said: “A key task for the new board will be to build a successful organisation that can deploy many of the different skill-sets that currently reside in the five existing regulators in an integrated way. As chairman, I am therefore delighted to see such a wealth of experience and expertise represented on the new board.”

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Tessa Jowell, added: “I am delighted that the inaugural board of Ofcom is now complete and can start on the important job of creating a full converged, world class regulator for the communications industry.”

DCMS: 020 7211 6200 www.culture.gov.uk

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