News story: Ofcom Board Member appointed

Nick Pollard has had a distinguished career in British journalism and broadcasting spanning more than forty five years.

Nick began his career as a local newspaper journalist on Merseyside in 1968 and worked for BBC Radio and TV News during the 1970s. He joined ITN in 1980 and became Executive Producer of News at Ten and responsible for major story coverage in the UK and around the world. From 1996 to 2006 Nick was Head of Sky News during which time the channel won numerous awards for its reporting of events around the globe. From 2009 to 2015 Nick was Chief Executive of Services Sound and Vision Corporation, the charity that runs British Forces Broadcasting and other services for the UK’s armed forces. He became a member of the Content Board of Ofcom, the UK’s broadcasting and telecommunications industry regulator, in 2016. Nick is a Fellow of the Royal Television Society and in 2007 was awarded the RTS’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Television Journalism. He was Chairman of the Society’s annual Journalism Awards from 2008-2011. In 2012 he carried out the independent inquiry into the BBC’s handling of the Jimmy Savile affair, producing ‘The Pollard Report’ on the matter in December 2012.

The Board of Ofcom is appointed by the Secretary of State. Board Members are paid £42,519 per annum.

This appointment has been made by exception under the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Nick Pollard was initially appointed to the Ofcom Board for an interim period of 6 months, from 14 November 2016. However, given the need for stability and continuity for Ofcom as it goes through a period of significant change and takes on additional responsibilities for regulating the BBC, the Secretary of State has decided to appoint Nick Pollard by exception for a period of 12 months to 13 May 2018.

In accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Nick has declared no such political activity.