| Chair of the BBC | |
|---|---|
 | |
| BBC Board BBC | |
| Member of | BBC Board |
| Appointer | Monarch, on the advice of the Secretary of State. |
| Term length | Four years, renewable once |
| Constituting instrument | Royal charter |
| First holder | The Lord Gainford |
| Salary | £160,000 |
The Chair of the BBC, referred to as Chairman when the incumbent is male and Chairwoman when female, is the head of the BBC Board, responsible for maintaining the independence of the BBC and overseeing the functioning of the BBC to fulfil its mission.[1][2] The chair leads the process for appointing the Director-General and can dismiss the Director-General.[3] The chair of the BBC also acts as the corporation's most senior representative to Parliament and the government, including the devolved administrations.[4]
The chair is formally appointed by the King-in-Council, on the advice of the Secretary of State for a four-year term.[3] The current chairman, Dr Samir Shah, succeeded chairwoman Dame Elan Closs Stephens on 4 March 2024.[5]
- ^ "The Chairmanship of the BBC" (PDF). Parliament of the United Kingdom. 6 August 2007. p. 6. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
- ^ "Sir David Clementi". BBC. Archived from the original on 2 November 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ a b "Royal Charter for the Continuance of the British Broadcasting Corporation" (PDF). BBC. December 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 July 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "Chair - British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)". Cabinet Office. Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ "Dr Samir Shah CBE is confirmed as the new BBC Chair". 22 February 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2024.