Our Bureau
London
Dr Samir Shah, an India-born media executive was recently confirmed as the new BBC chairman pursuant to his selection clearing the stages of scrutiny to be approved by King Charles III this week.
UK Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer announced his selection and said “With a career spanning more than 40 years in TV production and journalism, Dr Shah has a wealth of experience to bring to the position of BBC Chair.”
Further, she said, “He has a clear ambition to see the BBC succeed in a rapidly changing media landscape, and I have no doubt he will provide the support and scrutiny that the BBC needs to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future.”
Shah, the 72-year-old has been confirmed in the 1,60,000 pounds per year and four-year term role to take charge as the public broadcaster’s first Indian-origin Chair from March 4 till March 2028.
Shah was picked as the government’s preferred candidate in December last year and cross-party MPs of the House of Commons Media Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee quizzed him for his pre-appointment scrutiny.
“BBC is, without doubt, one of the greatest contributions we have made to global culture and one of our strongest calling cards on soft power. If I am able to put what skills, experience, and understanding of public service broadcasting I have built up during my career to help this brilliant organisation meet the complex and diverse challenges it faces over the coming years, it would be an honour,” said Shah.
“BBC has a great place in British life and a unique duty to reach a wide audience right across the country and I will do all I can to ensure it fulfils this in an increasingly competitive market,” he said.
This selection is a big change as it brings a journalist to the top of the BBC and BBC gets its first Indian-origin chairman.
Dr Shah has worked in TV for more than 40 years, starting at London Weekend Television in 1979. Holding positions such as the BBC’s head of television current affairs, and later heading the corporation’s political journalism across radio and television. In 2007, he was appointed as a non-executive director on the BBC Board.
Dr Shah is currently the chief executive of Juniper, an independent production company, which supplies programmes to the BBC, as well as other organisations including Channel 4, Netflix and National Geographic.
