Digitaltveurope.com

The UK government has named Lord Terry Burns as its preferred candidate to be the next chairman of media and telecoms regulator Ofcom.

Terry Burns

Burns is expected to take up his post on January 1, following a pre-appointment hearing before the parliamentary digital, culture, media and sports committee on December 13.

If confirmed, Burns will replace Dame Patricia Hodgson, who is stepping down as Ofcom chairman at the end of the year.

Burns was until January 2016 the chairman of Channel 4, having served for six years at the public service broadcaster. He is being replaced by Easyjet deputy chairman Charles Gurassa in February.

He has also served as Chairman of a number of private and public sector organisations, including Marks & Spencer, Santander UK, Welsh Water, the National Lottery Commission and The Royal Academy of Music. He sits as a cross-bench peer in the House of Lords.