Department for Culture, Media And Sport: Ben Bradshaw announces the appointment of a new member to the BBC Trust

Ben Bradshaw, the Culture Secretary, today announced that Richard Ayre has been appointed as a member of the BBC Trust for four years commencing on 1 August 2010.

The BBC Trust is responsible for representing the interests of licence fee payers.  It applies the principle of public value in holding to account the Executive Board, which is responsible for the day-to-day management of the BBC.  The Trust also ensures that the BBC’s activities are not anti-competitive and are consistent with a vibrant and dynamic broadcasting market.

Welcoming the appointment Ben Bradshaw said:

“I’m pleased to announce Richard Ayre’s appointment to the BBC Trust. Richard’s extensive experience and his commitment to maintaining the principles and standards of the BBC will make him a valuable member of the Trust.”

Richard Ayre is currently the Ofcom Content Board member for England and Chairman of Ofcom’s Broadcasting Review Committee. He will step down from this role in advance of becoming a BBC Trustee. He conducted Ofcom’s 2007 enquiry into the misuse of premium rate telephone calls in TV programming. Ayre was formerly the BBC’s Controller of Editorial Policy and Deputy Chief Executive of BBC News.  After leaving the BBC he worked for seven years on the board of the Food Standards Agency and has been the Law Society's Freedom of Information Adjudicator since 2001. He is a former Chairman of Article 19, the International Campaign for Freedom of Expression, and also of the African Caribbean Reporters’ Trust. He lives in east London with his partner, the artist Guy Burch.

Richard Ayre said:

“I’m keen to play a part in ensuring a BBC that delivers what licence fee payers have a right to expect of the world’s leading public service broadcaster. But I’m also determined to help protect the BBC’s editorial independence as we enter a time of severest pressures on the public sector.”

Notes to Editors

1. The Trust is led by the Chairman, and has 11 other members including the Vice-Chairman.  All members are responsible for representing the public interest as a whole. The Trust includes four members formally designated as members for each of the constituent nations of the United Kingdom.

2. The appointment and reappointment have been made in accordance with the OCPA Code of Practice. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if any declared) to be made public. Richard Ayre has not carried out any significant political activity within the past five years.

3. The appointment is made for four years from 1 August 2010 to 31 July 2014. The post is remunerated at a level of £35,935 per annum, for a two day per week time commitment.

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