Indian origin Dr Samir Shah CBE has been confirmed as the new BBC Chairman following Privy Council approval on February 21.
He will assume the role for a four-year term starting from March 4, 2024, until March 3, 2028 and will serve as a successor to Richard Sharp who had been forced to resign after a communication with former prime minister Boris Johnson came under scrutiny.
About
A distinguished figure in UK media landscape with over forty years of experience in broadcasting, Dr Samir Shah brings a wealth of expertise to his new position.
Prior to his appointment as BBC Chairman, the new BBC Chairman served as the CEO of Juniper, an independent television and radio production company, since 1998. Dr. Shah’s extensive background also includes a notable tenure as head of current affairs and political programmes at the BBC.
He also served as the Chair of the Runnymede Trust (1999-2009) and One World Media (2020-2024) and was a Member of the Arts and Media Honours Committee (2022-2024).
Awards and Accolades
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to journalism, the Royal Television Society (RTS) honored the newly elected BBC Chairman Dr Samir Shah with its top honor, the Outstanding Contribution award, in 2022. His distinguished career also includes roles as a Non-Executive Director of the BBC, Chair of the Museum of the Home, and trustee and Deputy Chair of the V&A.
Notably, Dr Samir Shah has also been recognized for his services to Television and Heritage, receiving a CBE in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours and an OBE in the 2000 New Year’s Honours List. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Television Society in 2002 and appointed Visiting Professor of Creative Media at Oxford University in 2019.
