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Technology Secretary confirms Sir Ian Cheshire, as new Chair
of Ofcom
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The former Channel 4 Chair will oversee regulator responsible
for enforcing the UK's Online Safety
Act, driving growth across communications sectors,
and protecting consumers
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Sir Ian has committed to ensuring the regulator acts
decisively to protect people from online harms as he steers
Ofcom through crucial next chapter.
Business leader Sir Ian Cheshire has been announced as Chair of
Ofcom, the UK's independent regulator for communications,
following a pre-appointment hearing with the Science,
Innovation and Technology Select Committee.
His appointment signals a significant moment for Ofcom, which has
evolved considerably since it was first established, with
telecoms, broadcasting and online safety now all within its
remit.
In taking on the role, Sir Ian has committed to ensuring the
regulator is guided by the experiences of those most exposed to
online harms and translates that insight into strong, effective
action. He has also committed to working constructively with
Government on all aspects of Ofcom's remit, including effective
implementation of the Online Safety Act including government's
recent action to build on it, delivering Ofcom's growth goals,
and developing robust KPIs, while fully upholding Ofcom's
operational independence.
Technology Secretary said:
Sir Ian brings exactly the kind of leadership experience
that Ofcom needs as it enters this next critical
chapter.
The Online Safety Act must be enforced robustly and without
compromise, and Ofcom has a central role in making the
UK the safest place to be online.
From protecting consumers and tackling online harms
to driving growth across our communications sectors, the
regulator has never had a more important role to play.
I look forward to working with Sir Ian as he leads Ofcom into
this next phase.
Sir Ian Cheshire said:
I am honoured and delighted to take on the Chair of Ofcom at this
vital time as it begins to tackle the new challenges of Online
Safety while continuing to deliver its traditional oversight of
telecoms and broadcasting . I am especially interested
in the lived experience of our citizens and also seeing
the data that allows us to measure the increase of our impact.
Sir Ian was most recently Chair of Channel 4 from 2022 to 2025,
and previously Chief Executive of Kingfisher plc. He has since
held senior non-executive and advisory roles across
business, sustainability and public policy, including
as Chair of Barclays UK, Landsecurities PLC and various
charities.
The Chair provides strategic leadership to Ofcom to ensure it can
deliver its statutory responsibilities, including implementing
and enforcing the Online Safety Act,
protecting consumers and supporting growth and
innovation across the UK's communications sectors.
He succeeds Lord , whose term as Chair
concluded at the end of April 2026.
