Lord Hollick - Chairman of the South Bank Board


Lord Hollick appointed Chairman of South Bank Board 19/02/02

Prominent Labour peer Lord Hollick has been appointed controversially to breath life back to the South Bank centre as new Chairman of the South Bank Board.

Conservatives have attacked Cultural secretary Tessa Jowell’s appointment, claiming it was a clear example of the "old boys’ network" that had eliminated earlier candidates Michael Portillo and former Tate chairman Dennis Stevenson.

The media tycoon takes over from Elliott Bernerd, who has resigned due to ill health. The South Bank Board is the governing body for the South Bank Centre. The Chairman and Governors of the Board are appointed by the Culture Secretary, having consulted the Arts Council.

The appointment is for a term of three years. The Chairmanship is a non-executive, unpaid position, and Lord Hollick’s first task will be to appoint a new Chief Executive.

Cllr Jowell said she had appointed Hollick because he "has the skills and qualities that will be required to lead the organisation effectively, secure the success of the development and deliver an outcome of which the nation can be proud."

Hollick is best known as chief executive of Blackfriars Road-based United Business Media plc, an international business information group with major publishing, news distribution and market research businesses in the UK, US, Europe and Asia.

Lord Hollick said: "I am thrilled to be appointed Chairman of the South Bank Board. I admire the range and high quality of its work, its commitment to education and its success in appealing to a broad audience."