BBC Trust chair: Michael Grade 'out of the running' to succeed Lord Patten

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/may/07/bbc-trust-chairman-michael-grade-helen-alexander

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A number of senior figures have ruled themselves out of the running to become the next chair of the BBC Trust, including Michael Grade and Helen Alexander, the former head of the CBI and publisher of the Economist.

Grade, who was considered to be an outsider having walked away from the BBC Trust chairmanship to join ITV in 2006, is not thought to be interested in applying for the role.

Alexander has been considered by many observers to be a prime candidate to be the first female head of the BBC Trust.

However, Alexander, who spent 23 years at the Economist Group, rising to the position of chief executive, is thought to have ruled herself out.

She also ruled herself out of the process in 2010.

Lord Myners, Labour's former City minister who recently quit the board of the Co-operative Group, has not definitively ruled himself out and is thought to be considering the role.

BBC Trust vice-chairman Diane Coyle, who is acting chair during the recruitment process, is undecided as to whether she will apply for the job.

Coyle's background as an economist who once advised the Treasury could be viewed as extremely useful in the licence fee and royal charter renegotiations.

However, internal candidates have not fared well in the past, with former BBC trustees Dame Patricia Hodgson, the new chair of Ofcom, and banker Anthony Fry missing out last time.

It is poor timing for Sir Richard Lambert, who was considered Patten's closest rival for the job to succeed Sir Michael Lyons, as he is setting up the new banking standards body.

However, the former director of the CBI and one-time editor of the Financial Times recently refused to commit to staying on to head the organisation.

The Department for Culture, Media & Sport is still deciding what the process will be for appointing a replacement for Patten and what the job description will be.

There have been suggestions that due to the general election next year, and with the BBC's royal charter due to end in 2016, the appointment may only be for two years. The standard has been for a four-year tenure.

Tory sources have indicated previously that if their party won the next election, it would try to abolish the BBC Trust.

Such uncertainties are thought to be stopping some potential candidates from showing their hand until a more detailed job description emerges.

As one source said: "It may not be quite the job it was."

Whoever is appointed will lead the BBC's talks on charter renewal with director general Tony Hall, so their politics and financial and negotiating skills could be key.

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