Ofcom has reportedly begun its search for a new chief executive following Sharon White’s announcement she is stepping down from the role.
White made her announcement in early June.
According to the Financial Times, Ofcom has tasked recruitment company Russell Reynolds with finding White’s successor.
The paper reports a number of leading regulators and civil servants have been linked with the job, including Andrea Coscelli, chief executive of the Competition and Markets Authority, and Christopher Woolard, strategy and competition director at the Financial Conduct Authority, who have both previously worked at Ofcom.
Other possible contenders include Alex Chisholm, permanent secretary at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, who previously worked for the FT, and Philip Rutnam, permanent secretary at the Home Office and also a former Ofcom strategist.
The FT suggests the new chief executive will need to have strong connections with Westminster and therefore could be a “rising star” civil servant.
White is due to step down from the role around the turn of the year.
