Ofcom makes board appointments

Ben Verwaayen

Ofcom has appointed former BT, KPN and Alcatel Lucent CEO, Ben Verwaayen, and journalist and documentary film maker Bill Emmott to its board.

Verwaayen and Emmott will take up their roles as non-executive members of the Ofcom board this month for a term of four years. Emmott will also take on the role of chairman of Ofcom’s content board.

Verwaayen is currently a general partner at investment fund Keen Venture Partners and holds a number of board positions, including Akamai in the US and mobile operator Bharti Airtel in India.

Emmott previously spent 13 years as editor-in-chief of the Economist and was chairman of the London Library from 2009 to 2015.

Verwaayen and Emmott replace Tim Gardam and Mike McTighe, who are stepping down from the Ofcom board having each served two terms.

“I am delighted to be welcoming Ben Verwaayen and Bill Emmott to the Ofcom Board. They are two high-calibre appointments who bring a wealth of experience, which will greatly benefit Ofcom,” said Ofcom chairman Patricia Hodgson.