Ofcom chief Ed Richards will leave this year
Broadcasting regulator Ofcom announced yesterday that its long-serving chief executive Ed Richards will step down at the end of this year.
Richards, who previously moved to leave Ofcom in 2012 when he applied to become director-general of the BBC but was passed over for George Entwistle, said he would not consider his next move until he had departed the role.
Ofcom said it hoped to appoint a successor by early next year, however any appointment must be approved by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.
“Whoever replaces Ed Richards has their work cut out over the next few years. With the looming BBC licence fee renewal, concerns around Premier League TV pricing, the on-going debate about the appropriate regulation of fibre, and a new EU Commission to deal with, it’s going to be a turbulent induction process,” said Ovum telecoms analyst Matthew Howett on the change.