The BBC has appointed Robert Webb QC as the non-executive Chairman of BBC Worldwide. He succeeds Etienne de Villiers who steps down this month.
Robert Webb begins his new appointment in October 2009.
He will continue as a BBC non-executive director, but will step down as Chairman of the Fair Trading committee of the BBC Executive Board and will cease to be a member of that committee.
Mark Thompson, BBC Director-General, said: “Robert Webb has been an extremely effective non-executive director of the BBC.
“His extensive corporate experience combined with his passion for the BBC make him ideally placed to work with John Smith and the BBC Worldwide board in steering BBC Worldwide through the next stage of its development as a company.”
John Smith, Chief Executive, BBC Worldwide, said: “Robert’s experience at plc board level will be invaluable to BBC Worldwide. He is widely respected and a leader in his field.
“I am certain his commercial acumen will provide us with the necessary levels of support and challenge as we enter the next phase of our business strategy.”
Robert Webb said: “BBC Worldwide has at its heart a mission to maximise the value of BBC intellectual property.
“It creates and promotes not only BBC content but other brands as well, saving the UK licence fee payer money and maximising their investment.
“The people who do this have a great reputation in the whole industry. I look forward to working with them.”
After reading law at Exeter University Robert Webb was called to the Bar in 1971 and appointed QC in 1988. He was Head of Chambers, 5 Bell Yard between 1988 and 1998 and a Recorder of the Crown Court from 1993 to 1998.
He was General Counsel at British Airways from 1998 to 2009 where, in addition to legal and regulatory matters, he was responsible for government and industry affairs, safety, security, risk management and the environment.
He is Chairman of Autonomy, a non-executive director of the London Stock Exchange and of Argent Group PLC, and was appointed a non-executive director of the BBC in December 2006.
A first rate appointment! I am trying to make contact with Robert but do not have his e-mail address. Would it be possible for you to ask him to send it to me? Please give him my regards from the other end of the world.
With thanks in advance.
Ian Awford