Tessa Jowell said :
"The South Bank Centre has the potential to be the best cultural centre in the world, with world-class architecture, providing a varied programme of arts and film for a local, national and international audience. It should also be a model for culture-led urban regeneration, in common with the wider South Bank, from the London Eye and National Theatre to Shakespeare's Globe and Tate Modern, providing a cultural hub which will attract tourists from all over the world.
"The range and quality of the arts at the South Bank Centre stands comparison with the very best anywhere. But the artists, audiences and wider public are poorly served by the buildings, public spaces and infrastructure which have deteriorated over the last half century.
"Realising the potential of the site remains a major challenge. Rick Mather's masterplan was rightly commended for its vision, and some welcome progress has been made over the last two years, but as with its predecessors, progress has been limited by planning and funding difficulties and the absence of a consensus on the way forward among the South Bank Centre's many stakeholders. The Government fully supports the redevelopment of the South Bank Centre site and will work with the Board and other stakeholders to identify and deliver the necessary improvements.
"I have appointed Clive Hollick as Chairman of the South Bank Board as I believe he has the skills and qualities that will be required to lead the organisation effectively, secure the success of the development and deliver an outcome of which the nation can be proud. His extensive record of success in the public and private sectors is testament to his ability, and his combination of business expertise, strategic vision and focus on delivery will be of enormous value to the South Bank Centre and its stakeholders.
"His first priority will be to appoint a new Chief Executive. I have asked him to report to me within three months of the Chief Executive taking up post on his plans for completing the development and reinforcing the artistic programme through a focus on excellence, education and broadening public access."
Lord Hollick said :
" I am thrilled to be appointed Chairman of the South Bank Board. I admire the range and high quality of its work, its commitment to education and its success in appealing to a broad audience.
" The South Bank needs substantial investment. The first priority is to renovate and modernise the Royal Festival Hall.
" The Board and our key partners must then move quickly to provide great new buildings to fulfil the vision of the South Bank as a world class arts and entertainment centre for all, in the heart of London."
Gerry Robinson, Chairman of the Arts Council, said :
" I welcome wholeheartedly the appointment of Clive Hollick to the chair of the South Bank Board. It is a wise and timely choice given the exciting and challenging period ahead for the organisation.
" The planned refurbishment of the Royal Festival Hall and the opportunity to move forward on proposals to develop the rest of the South Bank site will allow this leading international arts centre to deliver world-class facilities for international and British artists, and an outstanding multi-cultural venue for its audiences."
Tessa Jowell also said :
" I would like to express my thanks to Elliott Bernerd for the enormous time and effort he has invested in the South Bank Board over the last seven years, both as a Governor and as Chairman. I know the personal challenges he has faced over the last year, and I share his regret that ill-health has compelled him to resign before the development of the site has been completed."
Notes for Editors
1. The South Bank Board is the governing body for the South Bank Centre. The Chairman and Governors of the Board are appointed by the Secretary of State, having consulted the Arts Council.
2. The other Governors are Maya Even (Vice-Chairman), Edward Walker-Arnott (Vice-Chairman), Elliott Bernerd, Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Deborah Bull, Sir George Christie, Robert Devereux, Gilbert Kaplan, Joanna Lumley, Robert Saxton, Alan Smith, Marina Vaizey, Nigel Walmsley and Alan Yentob.
3. The principal aims of the South Bank Centre are the promotion of the arts for the general benefit of the public, the development and improvement of the knowledge, understanding and practice of the arts on the South Bank Estate and the preservation and use of its buildings.
4. This appointment is for a term of three years. The Chairmanship is a non-executive, unremunerated position. The time commitment involves chairing six board meetings a year and attending other sub-committee meetings as necessary. Some additional time will be required to study papers, attend events at the SBC and other representational and fund-raising engagements. Initially, additional time will be required to be involved in the selection of a new Chief Executive.
5. Lord Hollick's biographical details are attached.
6. For further information please contact Sue Rose at the South Bank Centre press office (telephone 020-7921-0901 or 020-7921-0917)
B I O G R A P H Y
Lord Hollick
Clive Hollick is chief executive of United Business Media plc, an international business information group with major publishing, news distribution and market research vusinesses in the UK, US, Europe and Asia.
Clive Hollick, 56, was educated at Taunton School, Southampton and the University of Nottingham where he read sociology, politics and psychology.
He joined Hambros Bank Limited in 1967 and in 1973 was appointed the youngest director of the bank. The following year he was seconded to Vavasseur, a victim of 1974 secondary banking crisis, as Managing Director.
He completed the rescue in 1978 and started the development of MAI, as Vavasseur was subsequently renamed. MAI developed as a media and financial services group and in March 1996 merged with United News and Media plc to create an international media group with revenues of £2.3 billion and 16,000 employees. Clive Hollick is today the chief executive of the merged group, which has become an international business information group with market leading positions in the US technology and healthcare publishing, news distribution and pharmaceutical, media and automotive market research. United's extensive television, newspaper and consumer publishing markets were sold in 2000 for £2.4 billion and its money and securities broking business was demerged in 1998.
Non-executive director of Hambros Bank Limited from 1973-1996.
Chairman of Shepperton Sudios 1976–1979.
Chairman of Mills & Allen 1976–1990.
Director Harlow Butler 1980-1991.
Member of the National Bus Company Limited 1984-1991.
In 1986 he founded, and remains a trustee, of the Institute for Public Policy Research.
Director of Greater London Enterprise (Fund Managers) Limited 1987-1990.
Director of the Department of Applied Economics at Cambridge from 1988-1995.
Non-executive director of Logica plc from 1987 – 1992.
Director of Avenir Havas Media from 1989 to 1991.
Director NOP World Limited 1989-1997.
Director Meridian Broadcasting 1991-1996.
He was a non executive director of British Aerospace plc from 1992 to 1997.
Member of the Design Museum board 1994-1997.
Director Anglia Television 1994-1997.
Director Channel 5 Television 1995-97.
In 1995 he established and became a member of the Commission on Public Policy and British Business.
Governor of the Sadlers Wells Foundation until 1999.
He was a member of the House of Lords Committee on Science and Technology 1995/96
Director ITN 1996-1997.
In 1997 he was appointed a Governor of the London School of Economics and Political Science.
He was a Special Adviser to the President of the Board of Trade and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry from May 1997 to September 1998 and has been an advisor to successive leaders of the Labour Party since 1987.
Chairman Express Newspapers 1998-2000.
In 2000 he established, and is a leading member of the cross party and business group "Britain in Europe" which is campaigning for the UK's adoption of the Euro.
He was appointed a non-executive director of TRW Inc in February 2000 and Diageo plc in December 2001.
Clive Hollick was created a life Peer in June 1991. He is married with three daughters.
February 2002
