Lord Patten 彭定康 – BBC Trust chairman ?

Here is an excerpt from UK Guardian, “Lord Patten expected to be named BBC Trust chairman” (emphasis added). [Kempton: To some people, Lord Patten is known as the last governor of Hong Kong.]

“Lord Patten‘s pitch to win the job of BBC Trust chairman was simple – give me the job and I will stand up to both the government of the day and the organisation itself, if necessary.

It was exactly what the culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt, wanted to hear – evidence of strong-minded independence, which would allow him to say “this is not a political appointment” even though Patten is a former Conservative cabinet minister.

Now Patten’s name sits with David Cameron for approval – having been put forward by Hunt – and insiders said on Friday afternoon that the prime minister’s consent was expected to be a formality next week.

That would propel Patten into the £110,000-a-year, four-day a week role at a time when the public broadcaster has just asked for 20% cuts to meet the flat licence fee settlement imposed by the government last year.

Patten – aged 66 and currently chancellor of Oxford University – made it clear to both Hunt and an interview panel that he badly wanted the BBC job as the final act in a long career in politics and public life.“

Also see Guardian, “Chris Patten: the extraordinary career of an achiever who couldn’t retire
From Tory chairman to Hong Kong governor to academia – and now the expected chairmanship of the BBC Trust“.