Key Facts

1922-26 Lord Gainford

1927-30 Earl of Clarendon

1930-35 J.H. Whitley

1935 Viscount Bridgeman

1935-39 R.C. Norman

1939-46 Sir Allan Powell

1947 Lord Inman

1947-52 Lord Simon of Wythenshawe

1952-57 Sir Alexander Cadogan

1957-64 Sir Arthur fforde

1964 Sir James Duff

1964-67 Lord Normanbrook

1967-72 Lord Hill of Luton

1973-80 Sir Michael Swann

1980-83 George Howard

1983-86 Stuart Young

1986-96 Marmaduke Hussey

1996-2001 Sir Christopher Bland

2001-04 Gavyn Davies

2004-06 Michael Grade

2007- Sir Michael Lyons

Lord Gainford was Chairman of the British Broadcasting Company and then first Vice-Chairman of the Corporation from 1927. An industrialist from Darlington who had been a Liberal MP and briefly Postmaster-General in 1916.

Earl of Clarendon, aged 49 when became Chairman in 1927. Former Under Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs. Left BBC in 1930 to become Governor-General of South Africa. Died in 1955.

J.H. Whitley, Liberal MP who was Speaker of House of Commons from 1921 to 1928. Became Chairman in 1930 at age of 64. Died in office.

Viscount Bridgeman, MP for 23 years who held office in successive Conservative governments. Appointed Chairman in March 1935 aged 70 but died less than five months later.

R.C. (Ronald Collet) Norman, past chairman of London County Council. Joined Board of Governors as Vice-Chairman in 1933, becoming Chairman in 1935 aged 62. Had to manage final retirement of first BBC Director-General John Reith. Died in 1963.

Sir Allan Powell, barrister who served on many committees. Became Chairman in 1939, aged 63. One of only two Governors during the first two years of World War Two. Remained Chairman until 1946. Died in 1948.

Lord Inman. Labour peer closely associated with hospital and church work; had been book publisher and newspaper owner. Became Chairman in 1947 aged 54. Resigned to become Lord Privy Seal in Labour administration after four months.

Lord Simon of Wythenshawe. Manchester industrialist who had been a Liberal MP but later joined Labour Party. Had also been Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Lord Mayor of Manchester. Became Chairman in 1947 aged 67. Died in 1960.

Sir Alexander Cadogan. Experienced diplomat and first former civil servant to be Chairman of BBC when appointed in 1952 aged 67. Had been Britain's permanent representative at the United Nations. Died in 1968.

Sir Arthur fforde. Former Headmaster of Rugby School. Became Chairman in 1957 aged 57. Resigned through ill health in 1964. Subsequently served as director with many companies.

Sir James Duff. Became Chairman in 1964 aged 66. Previously Vice-Chairman, a role he reverted to later in 1964. Previously Director of the Department of Education at Manchester University and Vice-Chancellor of Durham University for 21 years. Died in 1970.

Lord Normanbrook. Chairman from 1964, aged 62, until his death in 1967. Had been Head of the Home Civil Service and Secretary of the Cabinet.

Lord Hill of Luton. The famed Radio Doctor (Dr Charles Hill) and former Conservative minister, had been Chairman of the Independent Television Authority since 1963. Became BBC Chairman in 1967 aged 63. Term of office ran until 1972.

Sir Michael Swann. Former Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Edinburgh University. Became Chairman in 1973 aged 52. Left BBC in 1980 to become Provost of Oriel College, Oxford.

George Howard. Had been Governor of the BBC for eight years when appointed Chairman in 1980 aged 60. Owner of Castle Howard. Served in World War Two as Major in Green Howards and Indian Army. Wounded in Burma. Former President of the Country Landowners' Association.

Stuart Young. Accountant and brother of Conservative Cabinet minister Lord Young, had been Governor since 1981 when became Chairman in 1983 aged 49. Held number of appointments including director of Caledonian Airways Ltd and of Tesco Stores (Holdings) plc. Died in office.

Marmaduke Hussey. Had been Chief Executive of Times Newspapers and Joint Chairman of Great Western Radio. Served in World War Two in Grenadier Guards in Italy. Chairman of Royal Marsden Hospital, 1985-98. Became BBC Chairman in 1986 aged 63. Later Lord Hussey, he died in December 2006 - see press release.

Sir Christopher Bland. Chairman, Bow Group, 1969-70; Deputy Chairman of the Independent Broadcasting Authority, 1972-80; Chairman, LWT (Holdings) plc, 1984-94; Chairman, NFC, 1994-2000; knighted for NHS work in 1993. Became BBC Chairman in 1996 aged 58. Left after being appointed Chairman of BT.

Gavyn Davies. Economist. Appointed Chairman in October 2001, aged 50, after being Vice-Chairman from January 2001. Chaired UK Government inquiry into Future Funding of BBC, 1999. Economic adviser to 10 Downing Street Policy Unit, 1976-79. Member of HM Treasury's independent forecasting panel, 1992-97. Resigned as Chairman January 2004 - see statement.

Michael Grade. Became Chairman in May 2004. Resigned in November 2006 to become Executive Chairman of ITV. Distinguished career including leading roles in commercial television, BBC, film and leisure industries. Became Head of Entertainment and Director of Programmes at London Weekend Television (1973); moved to USA to become President of Embassy Television (1981); joined BBC as Controller BBC-1 (1984) and became Director of Programmes, Television (1986). Spent nine years from 1988 as Chief Executive of Channel 4 Television. 1997, joined First Leisure Corporation, first as Executive Chairman and then as Chief Executive until 1999. See press release.