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Richard Sharp set to become BBC's third Jewish chairman
He was an adviser to Boris Johnson during his time as London mayor
January 6, 2021 14:55
He was an adviser to Boris Johnson during his time as London mayor
January 6, 2021 14:55The BBC is set to appoint its second Jewish chairman after Sir David Clementi steps down from the role next month.
Reports on Wednesday said the government was preparing to announce the appointment of Richard Sharp, a former banker at Goldman Sachs, as the new chair later this week.
The son of Lord Sharp of Grimsdyke - formerly Eric Sharp - the new BBC chair was one of three children born to parents who were members of Westminster Synagogue.
Mr Sharp, aged 64, is one of three siblings. His sister, Dame Victoria Sharp, is president of the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court in England and Wales. His other sister, Nicola, died from cancer in 1982.
Lord Michael Grade, who is Jewish, chaired the corporation between 2004 and 2006.
Mr Sharp married an American, also named Victoria, in 1987 in Connecticut. He has spent most of his career in banking, starting with the city banker JP Morgan, and then spent more than 20 years with the Wall Street giant Goldman Sachs.
He was an adviser to Boris Johnson during his time as London mayor. At Goldman Sachs he was said at one stage to have been Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s boss.
Mr Sharp was on the Bank of England's Financial Policy Committee for six years until 2019.
As an adviser to the Treasury on its pandemic response, he reportedly played a key role in the £1.57bn arts rescue package, and the film and television production restart scheme.
He was also chairman of the Royal Academy of Arts from 2007 to 2012, and founded the charity London Music Masters.
Mr Sharp’s new role will see him lead negotiations with the government over the future of the licence fee.
The licence fee is due to stay in place until at least 2027, when the BBC's Royal Charter ends.
The government is currently reviewing whether the current fee of £157.50 should rise with inflation from 2022, and whether non-payment should remain a criminal offence.
Mr Sharp has previously donated money to the Tory Party – but he was also linked to the former centrist group United for Change.
His appointment could be confirmed on Thursday.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the BBC have been approached for comment.