Ofcom names content director to board

UK media and telecom regulator Ofcom has appointed Kevin Bakhurst, its content and media policy group director, to its board.

Kevin Bakhurst

Bakhurst joined Ofcom in 2016 and has overseen its work on content standards and policy, including taking on regulation of the BBC and preparations to become the regulator for video sharing platforms in the UK. He will join as an executive member of the board from this month.

Kevin joined Ofcom from RTÉ, the public service broadcaster in the Republic of Ireland, where he was deputy director general, the acting director general, and managing director for news and current affairs, and before that had a long career at the BBC.

Lord Terry Burns, Ofcom’s chairman, said: “Kevin brings significant editorial experience, which will greatly benefit the Ofcom Board.”

Kevin Bakhurst said: “I’m looking forward to joining the Ofcom Board at a time when protecting audiences has never been more important.”

The move underscores Ofcom’s expanding remit to cover not only regulation of the national public broadcaster but internet content.

In February the UK government announced that the watchdog would be put in charge of regulating “harmful and illegal content” online. Interim CEO Jonathan Oxley – who handed over the reins to new CEO Dame Melanie Daweslast month – said at the time that Ofcom “will work with the Government to help ensure that regulation provides effective protection for people online.”