Andy Burnham announces new appointment and reappointment of members to the BBC Trust

103/08
10 October 2008

Culture Secretary Andy Burnham today announced that Anthony Fry has been appointed as a member of the BBC Trust and Jeremy Peat has been reappointed as member for Scotland for two years.  Both the four year appointment and the two year reappointment commence on 1 November 2008. 

The BBC Trust is responsible for representing the interests of licence fee payers. It applies the principle of public value in holding to account the Executive Board, which is responsible for the day-to-day management of the BBC. The Trust also ensures that the BBC's activities are not anti-competitive and are consistent with a vibrant and dynamic broadcasting market.

Welcoming the appointments Andy Burnham said:

“I am pleased to announce these appointments. I know both Anthony Fry and Jeremy Peat are committed to serving the BBC Trust in safeguarding the high principles and standards the BBC is renowned for.” 

Anthony Fry has spent more than 30 years working around the world as an investment banker for the Rothschild Group, Credit Suisse and Lehman Brothers and is currently senior managing director in the investment banking boutique, Evercore Partners. As Global Head of the Media business and European Head of Telecoms at Credit Suisse he worked with a number of media organisations including the BBC, BSkyB and Vivendi. He has held a number of non-executive positions at companies including Southern Water, the BSI, Mowlem and is currently on the Boards of Dairy Crest and Control Risk. He also serves on the boards of numerous charitable foundations and academic institutions including SOAS, The Godolphin and Latymer School and The Edinburgh International Television Festival.

Jeremy Peat transferred from the BBC Board of Governors upon the formation of the Trust. He was appointed the National Governor for Scotland in January 2005. In addition to his role on the Trust, he is Chairman of the BBC Pension Scheme Trustees. He is a member of the Competition Commission and director of the David Hume Institute. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Chartered Institute of Bankers for Scotland, he is also Visiting Professor at the Edinburgh University School of Management, Honorary Professor at Heriot-Watt University and Honorary Doctor of Law from the University of Aberdeen. He was previously Group Chief Economist at the Royal Bank of Scotland (1993–2005) and a former economic adviser to HM Treasury, the Scottish Office and the Government of Botswana.  Jeremy is a columnist for The Herald and Holyrood magazine.

 

Notes to Editors

  1. The Trust is led by the Chairman, and has 11 other members including the Vice-Chairman.  All members are responsible for representing the public interest as a whole. The Trust includes four members formally designated as members for each of the constituent nations of the United Kingdom.
  2. The new 10-year BBC Charter was sealed on 19 July 2006.  As part of the Charter Review, which saw an unprecedented level of public involvement in determining the future of the BBC, the then Secretary of State decided to overhaul the BBC's governance system.
  3. The appointment and reappointment have been made in accordance with the OCPA Code of Practice. All appointments 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. Neither appointee has carried out any significant political activity within the past five years.
  4. Anthony Fry’s appointment is made for four years from 1 November 2008 to 31 October 2012. The post is remunerated at a level of £35,230 per annum, for a two day per week time commitment.
  5. Jeremy Peat’s reappointment is made for two years and two months from 1 November 2008 to 31 December 2010.  The post of Trust Member for Scotland is remunerated at a level of £40,265 per annum for a two day per week time commitment

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