BBC chairman Richard Sharp has resigned after a report found he did not disclose ‘potential perceived conflicts’ of interest during his appointment.
The report looked at whether he was transparent about his involvement in the facilitation of a loan to Boris Johnson.
Richard Sharp apologised, saying he did not want to be a distraction for the BBC, says a report run by the website of the popular broadcasting house.
The report, by barrister Adam Heppinstall, published on April 28, found that Richard Sharp had failed to disclose two potential perceived conflicts of interest: first, by telling Boris Johnson he wanted to apply for the BBC role before doing so; and second, by telling the Prime Minister he intended to set up a meeting between Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, and Sam Blyth, a distant cousin of Boris Johnson.
The report notes that Richard Sharp does not accept the first conclusion but apologises for the second.
Richard Sharp called the breach of public appointment rules “inadvertent and not material”.
Richard Sharp has previously accepted that he arranged a meeting between the country’s most senior civil servant Simon Case and Sam Blyth over financial assistance to the then PM in late 2020.
At the time of that meeting, Richard Sharp, an ex-investment banker and Conservative Party donor, had already applied for the senior BBC job.
The investigation was set up by the Commissioner of Public Appointments to investigate claims which first appeared in the Sunday Times.
The report found “there is a risk of a perception that Richard Sharp was recommended for appointment” because he sought to assist the PM in a private financial matter “and/or that he influenced the former Prime Minister to recommend him by informing him of his application before he submitted it”.
The report did not make a judgement “on whether Richard Sharp had any intention of seeking to influence the former Prime Minister in this manner”.
Confirming his resignation, Richard Sharp said the report found “that while I did breach the governance code for public appointments, he (Heppinstall) states that a breach does not necessarily invalidate an appointment”.
Richard Sharp said the report finds he did not play “any part whatsoever in the facilitation, arrangement, or financing of a loan for the former Prime Minister”.
In a statement, Richard Sharp said he did not want to be a “distraction”, adding that it had been an honour to chair the BBC.
He will remain in post until June, until a successor is appointed.
Richard Sharp’s position came under further scrutiny in March following Gary Lineker’s suspension over a tweet criticising Government asylum policy, a decision which triggered a wider row about BBC impartiality.
Critics of the BBC’s handling of the issue contrasted Lineker’s suspension with how allegations against Richard Sharp were dealt with, pointing out the Chairman was able to remain in post despite ongoing investigations.
In a statement, Tim Davie, the Director-General of the BBC, said: “On behalf of the BBC Executive, I would like to thank Richard for his service to the BBC and the drive and intellect he brought to his time as Chairman. Working with him over the last two years has been rewarding, and Richard has made a significant contribution to the transformation and success of the BBC.
“The focus for all of us at the BBC is continuing the hard work to ensure we deliver for audiences, both now and in the future”, he said.
Richard Sharp worked at JP Morgan for eight years and then for 23 years at Goldman Sachs.
Richard Sharp had come under criticism and scrutiny for helping Boris Johnson secure an £800,000 loan during his tenure as Prime Minister and for not disclosing this during the appointment process at the BBC.
Interestingly he used to be the boss of the current UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, at Goldman Sachs. He has donated more than £400,000 to the Conservative Party.
Before coming to the BBC, Richard Sharp served as Chairman of the Royal Academy of Arts (2007–2012) and as a member of the Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee between 2013–2019.
Commentators had observed that his relationship with Rishi Sunak would probably help him to lead negotiations with the Government over the future of the BBC’s licence fee. Richard Sharp was born on February 8 1956, to a Jewish family in London.
