Ex-Goldman bankertobe chairofBBC
THE BBC will have its third Jewish chairman,RichardSharp,whencurrent chair Sir David Clementi steps down next month, it was reported this week.
The son of Lord Sharp of Grimsdyke — formerly Eric Sharp — is one of three children born to members of Westminster Synagogue. His sister, Dame Victoria Sharp, is president of the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court in England and Wales. His other sister, Nicola, died from cancer in 1982.
Lord Grade, who is Jewish, chaired the corporation from 2004-2006.
S t u a r t Y o u n g became chairman in 1983 and died while still in office in 1986.
Mr Sharp, 64, married an American, also named Victoria, in 1987 in Connecticut. He has spent most of his career in banking, starting with JP Morgan, before more than 20 years with the Wall Street giant Goldman Sachs.
Mr Sharp was an adviser to Boris Johnson during his time as London mayor. At Goldman Sachs he was said to have been Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s boss at one stage. ThenewBBCchairwasontheBankof England’s Financial Policy Committee for six years until 2019.
As an adviser to the Treasury on its pandemic response, he reportedly played a key role in the £1.57bn arts rescue package, as well as the film and TV production restart scheme. He was also chairman of the Royal Academy of Arts from 2007 to 2012, and founded the charity London Music Masters. MrSharphasdonatedmoneytothe Conservative Party — but he was also linked to the former centrist group United for Change.