Sir Michael to leave BBC Trust

BBC Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons is to step down from his post
12 April 2012

BBC Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons is to step down after four years in the post, he has announced.

He has written to Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt to explain that he will not seek reappointment next May when his term ends.

Sir Michael - the first person to take the role - said the growing workload for the part-time position had made him "increasingly concerned" that it was squeezing out other demands on his time.

In his letter, he said the post "has been far more demanding than the nominal three to four days a week in the job specification".

There has been some uncertainty about the future of the Trust under the coalition Government.

Prior to the General Election, there had been speculation that the Conservatives would move to scrap the body and, as shadow culture spokesman, Mr Hunt had said he had "serious reservations" about the BBC Trust.

The Trust has been credited with helping to make some areas of the BBC's operation more transparent, such as expenses and senior executives' pay.

It has also been involved in a number of high-profile difficulties for the corporation.

Most recently, it launched a public consultation into BBC Director-General Mark Thompson's strategic review.

As a result, the Trust effectively put the brakes on proposals to close the digital station 6 Music.

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