Joint DCMS/DTI press notice.
Sara Nathan's re-appointment will end on 31 December 2007. Ian Hargreaves' re-appointment will end on 31 December 2008.
Background
Ofcom is an independent statutory corporation accountable to Parliament. The Ofcom Board provides strategic direction for the organisation, with a Non-Executive Chairman and Deputy Chairman, four Non-Executive Directors and four Executive Directors including the Chief Executive Officer.
Non-Executive Directors of the Ofcom Board (including the Chair and Deputy Chair) are appointed jointly by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, under the provisions of the Office of Communications Act 2002.
As stated in Ofcom's Annual Report for 2004/5, Sara Nathan's total remuneration was £55,000 for 2.5 days a week and Ian Hargreaves' total remuneration was £44,111 for 2 days a week.
The re-appointments have been made in accordance with the Code of Practice set out by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA).
Biographies
Sara Nathan was appointed to the Ofcom Board in September 2002 on a four year term, now extended for an additional 15 months. She currently occupies several non-executive positions including Chair, Animal Procedures Committee; Member, Judicial Appointments Commission; Member of the Regulatory Decisions Committee of the Financial Services Authority and Member of the premium rate services regulator, ICSTIS. Her previous appointments include Editor, Channel 4 News at ITN (1995-97); Editor, The Magazine Radio 5 Live (1993-95); Chief Assistant to the Editor of News and Current Affairs, Radio 4 (1992-93) and Member of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.
Ian Hargreaves was appointed to the Ofcom Board in December 2002 on a four year term, now extended for an additional two years. In January 2003, he took up a new position as Group Director, Corporate and Public Affairs at BAA plc, but has retained his position as Professor of Journalism at Cardiff University. He is a former chairman of Demos, and was a member of the Chancellor's Social Investment Task Force. Previous appointments include Editor, New Statesman (1996-98); Editor, the Independent (1994-96); Deputy Editor, Financial Times (1990-94) and Director of News and Current Affairs, BBC (1987-90). His most recent book is Journalism: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2005).
Notes to Editors
1. Ian Hargreaves was appointed for a period of 4 years from 24 December 2002 to 31 December 2006. He has been re-appointed from the end of that term for a period of 2 years from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2008.
2. Sara Nathan was appointed for a period of 4 years from 25 September 2002 to 30 September 2006. She has been re-appointed from the end of that term for a period of 15 months from 1 October 2006 to 31 December 2007.
3. All appointments to Ofcom are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity (if any declared) to be made public. Ian Hargreaves and Sara Nathan have not declared any such activity.
For further details please visit www.ofcom.org.uk
Contact
Ofcom Media Office
mediaoffice@ofcom.org.uk
020 7981 3033
