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A panel of experts from across a range of industries have been appointed by the Culture Secretary to support the BBC Charter Review process.

Culture Secretary John Whittingdale has yesterday confirmed the appointment of experts from across a range of industries to support the BBC Charter Review process.

The advisory 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 programme of work; andbringing to bear their own personal experience and expertise on the policy debates.

The group takes in representatives from a range of backgrounds, with different experiences and differing views about the BBC. The advisory group members are as follows:

• Dawn Airey – Senior Vice President of Yahoo’s business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and formerly Chairman and Chief Executive of Channel 5.
• Dame Colette Bowe – Chairman of the Banking Standards Board, President of the Voice of the Listener and Viewer, and former Chair of Ofcom.
• Andrew Fisher - Executive Chairman at Shazam.
• Darren Henley OBE – CEO of Arts Council England and former Managing Director of Classic FM.
• Ashley Highfield – CEO of Johnston Press, one of the largest local media groups in the UK, and former director at the BBC.
• Alex Mahon – former CEO of Shine Group, global television content production company.
• Lopa Patel MBE - digital entrepreneur and founder/CEO of NewAsianPost.com and Diversity UK.
• Stewart Purvis CBE - British broadcaster and academic, and former Editor-in-Chief and CEO of ITN.

Secretary of State for Culture, Media, Sport, John Whittingdale MP, said:

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.

Members have been appointed in a voluntary capacity and on the basis of their personal experience, not as representatives of their respective organisations. They will meet up to six times a year, with additional members co-opted as and when required by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

Notes for editors

Media enquiries – DCMS News and Communications team – 020 7211 2210 or out of hours on 07699 751153.

Terms of Reference for the BBC Charter Review Advisory Group (PDF, 60.9KB, 2 pages)