BBC Names New Chairman

LONDON, April 5: Sir Michael Lyons
has been tapped as the chairman of the BBC Trust, the BBC's new governing body,
effective May 1, succeeding Michael Grade, who stepped down in November to
become the executive chairman of ITV.

Lyons is chairman of the English
Cities Fund (since 2002) and recently completed the "Lyons Inquiry"
into the functions and funding of local government (published March 2007). He
is a former deputy chairman and acting chairman of the Audit Commission (2003
to 2006) and was Professor of Public Policy at Birmingham University (2001 to
2006). He was knighted in January 2000 for Services to Local Government after
serving as the chief executive of three major local authorities: Birmingham
City Council (1994-2001); Nottinghamshire County Council (1990-1994) and
Wolverhampton Borough Council (1985-1990).

Lyons said of his new appointment:
"As the BBC's sovereign body, our duty is to ensure the public who pay for
the BBC retain overall control of their BBC. As Chairman I will never lose
sight of the public's core expectations of editorial independence and quality
programs across television, radio and the Internet which inform, educate and
entertain. I look forward to the exciting challenges of the future and working
with my colleagues on the Trust to ensure the BBC provides a quality service to
justify the public's continuing support."