Ofcom UK Set to Begin Hunt for New Chairman to Replace Lord Grade

The UK communications and media regulator, Ofcom, is reportedly preparing to kick off a new recruitment process – at the government’s (DSIT) behest – to find a replacement for the organisation’s current Chair, Michael Grade (Lord Grade of Yarmouth), who has been in the role since May 2022 and previously held senior positions at the BBC, ITV and Channel 4.

Grade’s four-year term is officially due to run until 30th April 2026, although there has been no suggestion that he will exit the role before that date. At the same time, Sky News reports that, according to “insiders“, there was also little prospect of him seeking to be reappointed for a second term in the job. Chair’s often change when government’s change.

Readers might well have forgotten by now, but Ofcom’s previous attempt to find a new Chair (starting in 2020 after Lord Burns agreed to step down) ended up being a long-winded, complex, and sometimes highly controversial affair (here) – the process was even restarted at one point. The new Labour government will hopefully be aiming for a smoother ride this time around, but it remains to be seen whether that will be the outcome.

The next Chair’s greatest areas of focus are likely to be on Ofcom’s ever expanding role in the regulation of internet content, as well as the switch to IP based TV services (away from terrestrial signals via the air waves), the future roll-out of 6G mobile and their approach to the next big phase of fixed line telecoms regulation in 2031 (the current 2026 market review is more about continuity than radical change).

In addition, Ofcom may well be handed more responsibility for Data Centres, which were recently re-classified (here) as being part of Critical National Infrastructure (CNI). Whoever wins the top job will also be required to give up any non-executive roles that could cause a conflict of interest.