Advisory Group Formed for BBC Charter Review

LONDON: Alex Mahon and Dawn Airey are among the industry experts tapped for an advisory group, appointed by U.K. Culture Secretary John Whittingdale, to assist in the BBC Charter Review process.

According to a statement from the Secretary of State for Culture, Media, Sport, the group "will play an important role in the government’s plans to deliver a transparent, open and democratic Charter Review. Its remit will be to provide expertise, innovation and advice for the process and policy of the review of the BBC Royal Charter by providing strategic independent oversight and challenge to the Charter Review program of work, and bringing to bear their own personal experience and expertise on the policy debates."

Airey, who previously led Channel 5, is now the senior VP of Yahoo's businesses in EMEA. Mahon was most recently the CEO of Shine. Also included in the group are Colette Bowe, former chair of Ofcom; Andrew Fisher, the executive chairman at Shazam; Darren Henley, the CEO of Arts Council England; Ashley Highfield, the CEO of Johnston Press; Lopa Patel, the founder and CEO of NewAsianPost.com and Diversity UK; and Stewart Purvis, the former editor-in-chief and CEO of ITN. They will meet up to six times a year.

Whittingdale commented, "Each member of the independent advisory group brings individual skills, experience and expertise. Together they will contribute to the oversight of the Government’s Review of the BBC Royal Charter. I look forward to working with them on this important issue."