Richard Sharp (banker)

Richard Sharp
Chairman of the BBC
In office
10 February 2021[1] – 27 June 2023
Preceded byDavid Clementi
Succeeded byElan Closs Stephens (acting)
Personal details
Born
Richard Simon Sharp

(1956-02-08) 8 February 1956 (age 68)[2]
London, England
Spouse
​
(divorced)​
Children4
Parents
RelativesVictoria Sharp (twin sister)
EducationMerchant Taylors' School, Northwood
Alma materChrist Church, Oxford
OccupationBanker, Chair of the BBC

Richard Simon Sharp (born 8 February 1956) is a British former banker who became chairman of the BBC in February 2021. Following the findings of the Heppinstall inquiry into the appointment process, Sharp submitted his resignation to the BBC Board and to the Culture Secretary, which took effect at the end of June 2023.

Sharp worked for JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs, and served as chairman of the Royal Academy of Arts (2007–2012) and as a member of the Bank of England's Financial Policy Committee (2013–2019).[3] While at Goldman Sachs, Sharp managed future Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Commentators had observed that his relationship with Sunak would probably help him to lead negotiations with the government over the future of the BBC's licence fee.[4]

Sharp has donated more than £400,000 to the Conservative Party. He helped to secure an £800,000 loan to Boris Johnson during his tenure as Prime Minister and this led to the inquiry and his resignation.

  1. ^ "Orders Approved and Business Transacted at the Privy Council Held by the Queen at Windsor Castle on 10th February 2021" (PDF). The Privy Council. gov.uk. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference BOE CV was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Kanter, Jake (6 January 2021). "Ex-Goldman Sachs Banker Richard Sharp Confirmed As Next BBC Chairman — Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  4. ^ "Former banker Richard Sharp to be next BBC chairman". BBC News. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2021.