BBC Trust Chairman Set For Press Club Event
10 March 2011
Sir Michael Lyons, chairman of the BBC Trust, is to be Birmingham Press Club’s first celebrity guest of 2011.
He will appear at a lunch event at Hotel du Vin on 12 May, which is being sponsored by Bournville College.
Sir Michael is the outgoing chairman of the BBC Trust, the governing body of the BBC, and leaves in May after a four year term.
Sir Michael has many links with the Midlands. Between 1980 and 1983 he served as a Labour councillor in Birmingham, and went on to become chief executive of the city council between 1994-2001.
He also served as chief executive of Wolverhampton Borough Council 91985-90) and Nottinghamshire County Council (1990-94). He was Chairman of the CBSO between 2001 and 2007.
As well as being chairman of the BBC Trust, Sir Michael holds a number of external positions, including: non-executive chairman of English Cities Fund; non-executive director of Mouchel plc and Wragge & Co; and governor, Royal Shakespeare Company.
An economist prior to working in the public sector, Sir Michael lives in Sutton Coldfield with his wife. He has three adult children.
He was appointed to the BBC Trust as successor to Michael Grade. He says of the broadcasting giant: “The BBC is one of a small number of institutions that shape our country.
“When I was growing up, the BBC broadened my horizons, introduced me to new experiences and helped me to see what was going on in the world.
“It is the medium through which, as a nation, we share great historic moments.
“This is a tough job, but who wouldn’t want the opportunity to help shape this organisation which plays such as important part in our national life?”
Press Club chairman John Lamb said: “We look forward to welcoming Sir Michael – it will be his first appearance after stepping down as chairman of the BBC Trust.
“It will certainly be interesting to hear more about what is the most important media organisation in the country, and one which remains a huge influence in Birmingham and the West Midlands, despite the decline of other media in the region in recent years.
“The lunch is also the first time the Press Club has been sponsored by Bournville College, which opens its new £66m Longbridge campus later this year.”
Bournville College Principal Norman Cave said: “We are excited to be working in partnership with Birmingham Press Club, especially during the time when we’re completing the work on our new state-of-the-art campus in Longbridge.
“Our new college will be one of the most modern and contemporary further education facilities in Europe and will bring long-lasting benefits directly to the region.”
