BBC Names Acting Chair

Professor Dame Elan Closs Stephens has been tapped as the acting chair of the BBC, succeeding Richard Sharp.

Stephens takes on the post effective June 27 and will serve in the role until the U.K. government names a permanent chair. She has been a non-executive director on the BBC board since July 2017, and prior to that was the trustee for Wales on the BBC Trust. She also previously served as chair of the commercial holdings board for BBC Studios. Stephens was also previously chair of S4C in Wales. She is currently the pro-chancellor and professor emerita in communications and creative industries at Aberystwyth University.

“It’s a huge honor to be appointed by the Secretary of State as acting chair and I am grateful to my fellow board members for putting their trust in me,” Stephens said. “As a board, we will champion the license fee payer across all of the U.K.; ensure the BBC is a vital partner for the U.K. creative industries; maintain trust and drive change to make the BBC fit for a fast-changing media landscape. There is much work to be done.”

“Elan has been an active and distinguished member of the BBC board who has brought huge energy and drive to her role as member for Wales,” the BBC board said. “We are delighted that she is taking up the role as acting chair; she is the ideal choice.”