Dame Patricia Hodgson to leave BBC Trust for Ofcom role

Dame Patricia Hodgson is leaving the BBC Trust to join Ofcom as a non-executive director.

She has been appointed to the broadcasting regulator alongside British Library chief executive Lynne Brindley, who will take up the same role.

Hogdson will start a three-and-a-half year term at the regulator on 1 July, with Brindley joining for three years.

Hodgson is also a non-executive director of the Competition Commission and member of the Higher Education Funding Council for England. She was chief executive of the Independent Television Commission before it merged to form Ofcom in 2003.

She has been a member of the BBC Trust board since it was established in 2007, and was shortlisted to succeed outgoing chairman Sir Michael Lyons earlier this year but missed out on the post to Lord Patten. She also put her name forward for vice-chairman but the role went to Diane Coyle.

Ofcom Chairman, Colette Bowe, said: "I am very pleased to be welcoming Patricia and Lynne to the Ofcom Board. They bring a wealth of experience and expertise which will greatly benefit Ofcom and I very much look forward to working with them over the next few years."

Culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt said he was pleased with the appointment, adding that is is "essential the regulator has people with extensive skills and experience on its board".

"They will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the regulator. I have no doubt they will play a major part in helping Ofcom carry out its essential role."

BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten BBC praised Hodgson for her work on the Trust:

"From the Trust's inception, Patricia has consistently and courageously applied her unrivalled knowledge and experience to its work.

"She will be a great loss, and on behalf of all of us I want to thank her for her contribution and to wish her well for her future role at Ofcom."

Image: BBC Trust.

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