Howard Stringer to Join BBC Executive Board

LONDON: Sir Howard Stringer, former chairman and CEO of Sony, has been appointed as a non-executive director on the board of the BBC.

Stringer has been appointed for a three-year term, starting January 1, 2014. His appointment was part of a series of changes put in place following the BBC Executive and BBC Trust's review.

Also among the changes, the BBC will be cutting the number of pan-BBC management boards by at least 60 percent. The reason for this, according to the BBC, is so that senior managers can make quicker decisions and concentrate on running their teams and departments.

The BBC is also shifting away from decision-making by multiple committees to a greater focus on personal responsibility. It is also bringing together the governance of different parts of the BBC, such as BBC Worldwide and BBC Studios, by managing their business at the executive board. The BBC said that this will help to avoid duplication and reduce the burden of unnecessary administration. 

Tony Hall, the BBC's director-general, said: “This is an important first step in making the BBC simpler and better run. And, I'm delighted that Sir Howard Stringer will be joining as a non-executive director."