Grade lists possible conflict holdings

net1

Grade lists possible conflict holdings

The BBC is to ask Michael Grade to disclose any shareholdings or business interests in the world's largest media and communications companies before he becomes Chairman of the publicly-funded broadcaster.

According to a report on the FT, Grade, who says he will resign as Chairman of Camelot, the lottery operator, has been told to notify the BBC governors of stock held in groups such as BSkyB, Time Warner, Vodafone and Walt Disney. He has been sent a list of 43 companies that he must register, partly to avoid accusations of any conflict of interest. The list includes Scottish Media Group and the Television Corporation, two companies where Grade is a Director.

He is standing down from the SMG board and has pledged to sell his shareholding before assuming the BBC role on May 17. Other companies on the list include Microsoft, British Telecom, News Corp and Granada.