Ed Richards to step down as Ofcom chief executive

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/oct/02/ed-richards-step-down-ofcom-chief-executive

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Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards is to stand down after 11 years at the UK media and communications regulator.

Richards, who as Tony Blair’s senior media policy adviser shaped the Communication Act that created Ofcom and then joined the regulator ahead of its launch in late 2003 as a senior partner, has been in the top job since 2006.

Richards will stand down at the end of the year with headhunters Zygos hired to lead the search to find a successor by the new year.

“It has been a privilege to lead Ofcom during such an exciting and dynamic period in the evolution of the UK’s communications sector,” said Richards. “It is never easy leaving a job that you enjoy greatly but I have always felt that once I had completed eight years as chief executive this would be the right time to move on.”

Richards replaced Stephen Carter as chief executive of Ofcom in 2006, having been made chief operating officer the year before. Richards originally joined Ofcom as a senior partner and was promoted to the board in 2003.

“Ed has been an outstanding chief executive,” said the Ofcom chair, Patricia Hodgson. “Under his leadership, Ofcom has helped to deliver superfast broadband, 4G, lower prices, innovation, competition, and sustainable public service broadcasting in the UK. He leaves an impressive legacy. On behalf of the board I would like to thank him for his enormous contribution.”

In 2012, Richards applied to replace Mark Thompson as director general of the BBC. He missed out to George Entwistle, who resigned after just 54 days following the Jimmy Savile and Lord McAlpine Newsnight scandals.

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