Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Government has today announced the appointment of the Scotland and England representatives for the new BBC Unitary Board following an open and competitive recruitment process. Steve Morrison has been confirmed as the new BBC Board member for Scotland, and Dr Ashley Steel will be the new Board member for England.
Overall the new BBC Board, which will be responsible for overseeing a strong and independent BBC, will be made up of 14 members:
- a Chair appointed via a public appointments process coordinated by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The selection panel for this appointment was chaired by a Public Appointments Assessor, nominated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments;
- four non-executive board members representing each of the devolved nations, also appointed through a public appointments process coordinated by DCMS;
- five non-executive board members appointed by the BBC Board; and
- four executive members appointed by the BBC, including the BBC Director General, Tony Hall.
Steve Morrison, the new Board member for Scotland, has a career spanning almost four decades in broadcasting, and was previously Chief Executive of Granada PLC as well as founding Chief Executive of independent production companies group All3Media and subsequently its Chairman, now retired. He is currently the Rector of Edinburgh University.
Steve Morrison said:
As a Scot who has spent his life in television it is a great honour to be the first Scottish Member of the new BBC Board. The BBC is taking important steps to increase programme production both in Scotland and for its network channels. I look forward to contributing my broadcasting experience to the new Board and encouraging the growth of the creative industries in Scotland.
Dr Ashley Steel, the new Board member for England brings with her extensive board experience, and was previously Vice Chairman at professional services firm, KPMG.
Dr Ashley Steel said:
I am delighted to be joining the new BBC Board as the non-executive director representing England. The BBC is one of the best and most respected media organisations in the world, and I look forward to working with Sir David Clementi and colleagues.
The recruitment for a Board member for Northern Ireland will re-commence once the new Northern Ireland executive is in place.
No Board member for Wales has been appointed and another competition will now be launched to fill the vacancy.
ENDS
Media enquiries: DCMS Press Office 020 7211 6145
Notes to Editors:
Steve Morrisons career in broadcasting began at BBC Radio Scotland (Edinburgh) and BBC Television (Glasgow). He then moved to Granada where he worked as both Head of Regional Programmes and Director of Programmes, eventually becoming Chief Executive of Granada plc. During his time at Granada he was joint Chairman of the Granada/Scottish Television airtime sales house.
Steve was the founding Chief Executive of independent production companies group All3Media, and subsequently its Chairman, now retired. All3Media became the leading group of British owned Independent TV Production companies before it was sold to a joint venture of Discovery and Liberty Media.
Steve also holds an Honorary Doctorate of Social Science from Edinburgh and is currently the Rector of Edinburgh University.
Currently Dr Ashley Steel is a non executive director on the boards of National Express plc, the Civil Aviation Authority and Ince & Co, an international law firm. She is a founding member of the global advisory board for Out Leadership, a New York based organisation helping Chairmen and CEOs on LGBT business issues. Previously, Ashley was Vice Chairman at professional services firm, KPMG. During her time with the firm she worked in over 40 countries advising both listed companies and national governments. She also held global leadership roles for the firms transport and infrastructure practice and, while based in the USA, for its global technology and media practice.
The appointment process was run in accordance with the OCPA Code of Practice. It is a requirement of the Code that political activity is declared; both candidates have declared no such political activity. Remuneration for the role of BBC Board Members is 33,000 per annum.
Under the terms of the BBC Royal Charter, appointment of the BBC Chair and members is made by HM The Queen on recommendation from Ministers (the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, through the Prime Minister).