BBC President Richard Sharp announced his resignation on Friday, swept away by a conflict of interest case surrounding his appointment as head of the British public audiovisual group. A report published on Friday found a violation of the rules on public appointments. Former banker, Richard Sharp was appointed in 2021, shortly after having played the matchmaker to help Boris Johnson, then Prime Minister, to obtain a loan of 800,000 pounds sterling (906,000 euros).
Resignation effective in June
The report “concludes that I violated the code of governance for public appointments”, but that this violation “does not necessarily invalidate the appointment”, explains Richard Sharp in a press release announcing his resignation. Claiming an ‘inadvertent’ breach, Richard Sharp argues he wants to put ‘the interests of the BBC first’, saying the case could represent a ‘distraction’ from the ‘good work’ of the media giant British audiovisual.
His resignation will be effective at the end of June. In a letter to Richard Sharp, Culture Minister Lucy Fraser said she “understands and respects” his decision, thanking him for his work as BBC chairman.