Dr. Sameer Shah, an Indian media veteran, has been voted as the next BBC Chairman

 Dr. Sameer Shah, an Indian media veteran, has been voted as the next BBC Chairman

The 71-year-old takes over for Richard Sharp, who was forced to leave after a probe into his conversations with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson resulted in a CBE award from Queen Elizabeth II in 2019 for services to television and history. I went.

The UK government has declared its preference for Dr. Samir Shah, a media executive with over 40 years of experience in broadcasting in the UK and Indian descent, to be the next Chairman of the BBC.

The 71-year-old takes over for Richard Sharp, who was forced to leave after a probe into his conversations with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson resulted in a CBE award from Queen Elizabeth II in 2019 for services to television and history. I went.

Before officially taking over, Shah will now be subjected to a pre-appointment probe by cross-party Members of the House of Commons Media Culture, Media and Sports Select Committee.

On Wednesday, UK Culture Secretary Lucy Fraser said that the appointment procedure had been followed and confirmed the choice. She said, "Dr. Shah has a wealth of experience to bring to the position of BBC Chair, having worked for over 40 years in TV production and journalism."

He said, "He has an unambiguous goal to see the BBC succeed in a constantly evolving media landscape and I have the confidence that he will provide the BBC with all of the backing and scrutiny it needs to succeed in facing future challenges and opportunities."

In addition to his extensive work promoting diversity in broadcasting, the minister in charge said Shah's knowledge of the British Broadcasting Corporation along with his belief in its role as a national broadcaster will be invaluable in helping to make sure that the BBC Reflects, represents, as well as serves communities across the nation. UK.

Shah said, "Without doubt, the BBC is the among our greatest contributions to international society and one of our strongest calling cards on soft power."

"It would be an honor if I could use the knowledge, expertise, and understanding of public service broadcasting I have gained throughout my career to assist this wonderful organization in overcoming the many and varied challenges it will face in the years to come. If I am able to, that is." He continued.

Shah said, "The BBC has a great place in British life and has an exclusive obligation to reach a wide audience across the country and I will make every effort to make sure that it fulfills this in an ever-more competitive market."

Born in Aurangabad Shah, who arrived in England in 1960, oversaw the political and current affairs programs at the BBC.

In addition to being the CEO and proprietor of Juniper, a stand-alone production firm for radio and television, Shah was a non-executive director of the BBC from 2007 to 2010.

The Oxford University alumni is also a specialist on racial relations; in 2021, he co-wrote the government's Race and Ethnic Inequality Commission report.

More recently, he was included in a three-person government-appointed commission to conduct an impartial investigation of the disturbances that occurred in Leicester City last year after confrontations between communal groups during an India-Pakistan cricket match.

Shah will have the annual remuneration of GBP 160,000 as Chairman of the BBC, a three-day-a-week position that will include sustaining and safeguarding the taxpayer-funded public broadcaster that is supported by licensing fees, as well as making sure it is "informed." carries out the objective of "To teach, to educate, and to entertain"

A BBC spokeswoman stated, "We welcome the news that Samir Shah has been chosen as the Government's preferred candidate to take up the job of BBC President and look forward to his joining the Board once the official process is complete." Is."

Mohit Bakaya, Shah's half-brother, has also worked for the BBC, having held the position of controller for BBC Radio 4.