Richard Sharp has exited his position as BBC chair after an investigation found that he had violated the rules on public appointments by failing to disclose his involvement in a loan of £800,000 to former prime minister Boris Johnson.
Adam Heppinstall KC determined that he had “failed to disclose potential perceived conflicts of interest" to the cross-party panel of MPs that signed off on his initial appointment in February 2021.
Sharp acknowledged that he had breached the rules, but maintained that it was “inadvertent and not material”.
He made the decision to “prioritise the interests” of the public broadcaster, stating: "I feel that this matter may well be a distraction from the corporation’s good work were I to remain in post until the end of my term. I have therefore this morning resigned as BBC Chair to the Secretary of State, and to the board."
A card-carrying Tory, Sharp’s appointment garnered some controversy. Commenting on today’s resignation statement, Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey said that Johsnon "should never have been allowed to appoint Richard Sharp in the first place" and that Sunak should have sacked him already.
"Everything Conservative politicians touch turns into a mess. They are not fit to govern our great country," Sharp stated.
A Downing Street source called his appointment "an independent process" and that Richard Sharp's decision to step down was "a matter for him and the BBC".
Sharp agreed to stay until the end of June while the government searches for a successor.
Private equity baron Sir Damon Buffini, who currently serves as the BBC’s deputy chair, may be in line for a promotion.
A founding partner of investment firm Permira, Buffini’s appointment in December 2022 was seen as a move to sharpen the broadcaster’s commercial focus.
Arts council chair and former Tate director Sir Nicholas Serota, who sits on the BBC board, is also among the hopefuls.
No announcement has been made at the time of writing.