Richard Sharp (banker)

Richard Simon Sharp (born 8 February 1956) is a British former banker who became chairman of the BBC in February 2021. Following the findings of the Heppinstall inquiry into the appointment process, Sharp submitted his resignation to the BBC Board and to the Culture Secretary, which took effect at the end of June 2023.

Richard Sharp
Chairman of the BBC
In office
10 February 2021[1] – 27 June 2023
Preceded byDavid Clementi
Succeeded byElan Closs Stephens (acting)
Personal details
Born
Richard Simon Sharp

(1956-02-08) 8 February 1956[2]
London, England
Spouse
​
(divorced)​
Children4
Parents
RelativesVictoria Sharp (twin sister)
EducationMerchant Taylors' School
Christ Church, Oxford
OccupationBanker, Chair of the BBC

Sharp worked for JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs, and served as chairman of the Royal Academy of Arts (2007–2012) and as a member of the Bank of England's Financial Policy Committee (2013–2019).[3] While at Goldman Sachs, Sharp managed future Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Commentators had observed that his relationship with Sunak would probably help him to lead negotiations with the government over the future of the BBC's licence fee.[4]

Sharp has donated more than £400,000 to the Conservative Party. He helped to secure an £800,000 loan to Boris Johnson during his tenure as Prime Minister and this led to the inquiry and his resignation.

Early life

Richard Simon Sharp was born on 8 February 1956,[2] to a Jewish family[5] in London.[6] He is the son of Eric Sharp, Baron Sharp of Grimsdyke, who was chairman of Cable & Wireless plc from 1980 to 1990.[5] His twin sister, Dame Victoria Sharp, is president of the King's Bench Division of the High Court in England and Wales.[5][7]

He was educated at Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood and then at Christ Church, Oxford where, in 1978, he was awarded a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.[8][7][9]

Career

Sharp worked for JP Morgan for eight years.[10] He then worked for Goldman Sachs for 23 years, rising to chairman of its principal investment business in Europe, before leaving in 2007.[11] He was Rishi Sunak's boss at Goldman Sachs,[10] was an advisor to Boris Johnson when he was Mayor of London, and acted as an unpaid adviser to Sunak on the UK's economic response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[12] He was a member of the Bank of England's Financial Policy Committee from 2013 to 2019.[11] In 2014, he joined the property investment company RoundShield Partners, where he was a senior member until February 2021, when The Guardian approached the firm for comment. RoundShield advised and managed a fund that provided a £50m loan to Caridon Property, which has been accused of "cramming homeless and low-income families into former office blocks".[13]

Sharp was chairman of the Royal Academy of Arts from 2007 to 2012.[11]

BBC chairmanship

In January 2021 it was announced that he would be the next chairman of the BBC, succeeding David Clementi who was due to leave the position the following month.[11][12] Speaking shortly after his appointment, Sharp told the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee that he planned to give his £160,000 BBC salary to charity.[14]

Conservative donations and political controversy

The Guardian reported that Sharp had donated more than £400,000 to the Conservative Party and that he was a former director of the Centre for Policy Studies, a think tank created by Margaret Thatcher in the 1970s with historical links to the Conservative Party.[15] The appointment followed that of Tim Davie, a former Conservative Party council candidate, to the role of Director-General.[16][17] Professor Diane Coyle, formerly of the BBC Trust, stated in January 2023 that Sharp should never have even been on the selection panel.[18]

In January 2023, The Sunday Times reported that just weeks before Sharp was announced as BBC chairman, he helped the then Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, secure an £800,000 loan. Sharp helped connect Johnson with Sam Blyth, a multimillionaire Canadian businessman and one of Johnson's distant cousins, who acted as a guarantor.[19] Sharp did not disclose any involvement with Johnson's financial arrangements during the interview process, nor at a hearing before a select committee. He acknowledged that he "connected" Johnson and Blyth but denied that this was a conflict of interest.[20] Replying to a question about this from Sky News, Johnson said that Sharp knew nothing about his personal finances.[21]

Following the story, the Labour Party called for an investigation into Sharp's appointment as chair of the BBC and suggested that the Prime Minister had breached the code of conduct. The accusations have been dismissed by the Cabinet Office via a spokesperson and members of the government have maintained that Sharp was hired on merit.[22] The Board of the BBC was reviewing potential conflicts of interest,[23] but Sharp has stated that he would not quit his position.[24]

Writing in The Guardian on 24 January 2023, Roger Bolton drew parallels with the controversy over the appointment by the Tony Blair Labour government, of Gavyn Davies as chairman of the BBC in 2001.[25] Bolton described him as having been both a member of, and donor to, the Labour Party, and "also a multimillionaire", and as "a former partner at Goldman Sachs", and his wife was a "private secretary to the prime minister". Bolton also described how the director general under Davies, Greg Dyke, had also been a Labour Party member and donor. Roger Mosey stated restoring trust in BBC impartiality should involve ending political appointments to the chairmanship. Mosey maintained "All governments have done it."[25]

Sharp's failure to tell the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee of his discussions was examined at their meeting on 7 February 2023.[26] The Committee concluded that this omission prevented appropriate scrutiny.[27] The cross-party committee stated Sharp failed to provide "the full facts we required to make an informed judgment on his suitability as a candidate. Mr Sharp should consider the impact his omissions will have on trust in him, the BBC and the public appointments process". Labour MP Lucy Powell feared the report put the impartiality and independence of the BBC into doubt and criticised "cronyism", while Liberal Democrat MP Daisy Cooper called for the ministerial ethics adviser to investigate Johnson.[28][29]

The broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby said Sharp should "fall on his sword" due the criticism he had faced and added the trouble was causing a "great deal of damage for the BBC". Journalist Patience Wheatcroft commented on the loan to Johnson that Sharp helped to organise and said Sharp did Johnson "a favour just when he wanted the prime minister to give him the top job at the BBC.(...) What the BBC needs in a chairman is impeccable judgment."[30] In Declassified UK, former Guardian defence correspondent Richard Norton-Taylor said: "The Sharp affair is the latest episode in a long history of the close relationship between the BBC and the upper reaches of the British establishment."[31] In further evidence to the Select Committee, in March 2023, John Birt described Sharp as being unsuitable for the job and blamed the Cabinet Secretary for a failure of governance in the appointment.[32]

Gary Lineker controversy

In response to the suspension of Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker by the BBC, on 10 March 2023, [33] several politicians and other political commentators called for Sharp's resignation.[34] Labour leader Keir Starmer described Sharp's position as "increasingly untenable",[35] while Mark Ruskell, the culture spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, said: "Richard Sharp must go and go now. Every second he remains trust in the BBC's ability to carry out its functions free from UK Government influence is eroded."[36] Ed Davey, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, called on Sunak to "do the right thing and sack Richard Sharp."[37]

Inquiry and resignation

The Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments opened an inquiry into this appointment. On 6 February 2023 the Commissioner recused himself as he had "met Sharp on several occasions", and appointed barrister Adam Heppinstall to lead further work.[38][39]

Heppinstall's report was published on 28 April 2023 [40] and Sharp submitted his resignation, which took effect on 27 June 2023.[41] The Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer thanked him for his work and noted that he was "held in high regard by the BBC board".[42]

Rowson cartoon

On 29 April The Guardian apologised and removed a cartoon by Martin Rowson, which depicted Sharp in an unfavourable light and was described as containing anti-Semitic tropes, from their website, saying it "does not meet our editorial standards". The Jewish historian Simon Sebag Montefiore called it a "repellent explicitly racist cartoon".[43][44] Rowson himself also apologised, via Twitter, saying: "Through carelessness and thoughtlessness I screwed up pretty badly with a Graun toon today & many people are understandably very upset. I genuinely apologise, unconditionally.[45]

Personal life

Richard Sharp is Jewish.[46] In 1987, he married Victoria Hull, an American and fellow Goldman Sachs banker, in Connecticut.[5][47] They have three children together.[6] In October 2008, the couple were living in Kensington, and had an estimated net worth of £500 million.[48] They divorced, and some time after 2014, Hull married British investment banker Sir Simon Robey.[49] Sharp also has a daughter from a second marriage that has also ended.[50]

Between 2001 and 2019 Sharp gave around £410,000 to the Conservative Party, over 90% of that amount between 2004 and 2010,[51][52] and £35,000 to the Quilliam think tank via his charity, the Sharp Foundation.[53] When asked why he donated to Quilliam, Sharp said he was impressed by founder Maajid Nawaz's "efforts to combat radicalism and extremism".[54]

References
  1. "Orders Approved and Business Transacted at the Privy Council Held by the Queen at Windsor Castle on 10th February 2021" (PDF). The Privy Council. gov.uk. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  2. "Richard Sharp CV" (PDF). Bank of England. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  3. Kanter, Jake (6 January 2021). "Ex-Goldman Sachs Banker Richard Sharp Confirmed As Next BBC Chairman — Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  4. "Former banker Richard Sharp to be next BBC chairman". BBC News. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  5. Frazer, Jenni (27 October 2020). "Leading candidate to be next BBC chair is Jewish banking expert Richard Sharp". Jewish News. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  6. Bell, Alex (23 January 2015). "Getting to the Sharp end of a mysterious central bank". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  7. Rajan, Amol (6 January 2021). "Who is Richard Sharp, the BBC's new chairman?". BBC News. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  8. Harris, John (29 January 2023). "To understand the Zahawi story and Tory sleaze, look no further than Britain's posh cliques | John Harris". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  9. "Pre appointment hearing for Chair of the BBC: Appendix 1: Richard Sharp's CV". www.parliament.uk. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  10. Sampson, Annabel (22 October 2020). "Rishi Sunak's former boss is a hot contender for the BBC chairmanship job". The Tatler. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  11. "Former banker Richard Sharp to be next BBC chairman". BBC News. 6 January 2021.
  12. Bland, Archie (6 January 2021). "Rishi Sunak's adviser Richard Sharp to be next BBC chair". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  13. Wall, Tom (25 February 2021). "New BBC chair managed firm that funded controversial property company". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  14. "BBC's incoming chair to donate £160K salary to charity, inspired by Jewish roots". Jewish News. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  15. Sweney, Mark (23 January 2023). "Richard Sharp: 'pale, male, stale' BBC chair with friends in high places". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  16. "BBC licence fee is 'least worst' option, says new chairman Richard Sharp". BBC News. 14 January 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  17. Fisher, Andrew (30 November 2020). "The Conservatives are hollowing the state and consolidating power: democracy is at stake". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  18. Sherwin, Adam; Francis, Alannah (23 January 2023). "'Taint of Tory cronyism': Inside an angry BBC afraid of losing political impartiality amid Richard Sharp row". i. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  19. Morrison, Hamish (21 January 2023). "BBC chair Richard Sharp 'helped Boris Johnson secure £800,000 loan'". The National. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  20. Yorke, Harry; Pogrund, Gabriel (21 January 2023). "The BBC chairman, the prime minister and the £800,000 loan guarantee". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  21. Brown, Faye (23 January 2023). "Investigation launched into appointment process of BBC chairman after Boris Johnson loan claim". Sky News.
  22. Gillett, Francesca (23 January 2023). "Richard Sharp: Appointment of BBC chairman done correctly - government". BBC News. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  23. "Richard Sharp: BBC chairman asks for conflict of interest review". BBC News. 23 January 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  24. Razzall, Katie; Seddon, Sean (24 January 2023). "Richard Sharp: BBC chairman says he will not quit over Boris Johnson loan row". BBC News. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  25. Bolton, Roger (24 January 2023). "Learn this from the latest Boris Johnson scandal: never again should a PM appoint the BBC chair". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  26. "Formal meeting (oral evidence session): The work of the BBC". UK Parliament. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  27. "Appointment of Richard Sharp as Chair of the BBC". UK Parliament. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  28. Savage, Michael; Thorpe, Vanessa (12 February 2023). "BBC chairman Richard Sharp 'breached standards expected' for job application". The Observer. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  29. Stacey, Kiran (12 February 2023). "Richard Sharp's position as BBC chair 'increasingly untenable', says Labour". The Observer. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  30. Elgot, Jessica (14 February 2023). "BBC chair Richard Sharp should 'fall on his sword', says Jonathan Dimbleby". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  31. Norton-Taylor, Richard (13 February 2023). "Stopping 'subversives': The BBC and the spooks". Declassified UK. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  32. Youngs, Ian (28 March 2023). "Richard Sharp unsuitable to be BBC chairman, ex-director general John Birt says". BBC News. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  33. Elgot, Jessica; Halliday, Josh; Allegretti, Aubrey (12 March 2023). "Pressure on BBC chair mounts over Gary Lineker suspension". The Guardian.
  34. Dhondy, Farrukh (13 March 2023). "The BBC Lands Itself in a Mess in Its Handling of a Commentator's Strong Anti-Government Tweet". The Wire. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  35. Denison, Lewis (13 March 2023). "Pressure mounts for BBC chair Richard Sharp to quit following Gary Lineker row". ITV News. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  36. Morrison, Hamish (13 March 2023). "Tory-linked BBC chair must resign over Gary Lineker row, Greens demand". The National. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  37. Chantler-Hicks, Lydia; Salisbury, Josh; Cecil, Nicholas (13 March 2023). "Rishi Sunak faces growing Tory revolt over controversial small boats bill". Evening Standard. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  38. "Letter to DCMS Select Committee" (PDF). The Commissioner for Public Appointments. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  39. "PRESS NOTICE" (PDF). The Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. 6 February 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  40. "Needs ref to actual report". {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  41. "Richard Sharp: Former Chairman". BBC. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  42. Baker, Tim (28 April 2023). "Richard Sharp resigns as BBC chairman after Boris Johnson £800,000 loan row". Sky News. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  43. "The Guardian pulls cartoon of outgoing BBC boss Richard Sharp after antisemitism backlash". Sky News. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  44. Daisley, Stephen (29 April 2023). "The Guardian's shameful double standards". The Spectator. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  45. "Martin Rowson @MartinRowson". Twitter. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  46. Rich, Dave (1 May 2023). "Richard Sharp is a public figure and fair game for satire. The use of antisemitic tropes is not". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  47. "Victoria Hull Wed To Richard Sharp". The New York Times. 30 August 1987. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  48. "The 1000". Evening Standard. 2 October 2008. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  49. Semmes, Anne W. (22 March 2019). "Robey Brings Honor to Father Via the London Philharmonic". Greenwich Sentinel. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  50. Arlidge, John (3 December 2022). "Richard Sharp's vision for the BBC: more guts and no more liberal bias". The Times. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  51. Bright, Sam (6 January 2021). "New BBC Chairman has Donated Over £400,000 to the Conservative Party". Byline Times.
  52. "Electoral Commission, Search for Richard S Sharp". 29 April 2023.
  53. Oborne, Peter (13 January 2021). "Richard Sharp's donations to Quilliam raise questions about his BBC chairmanship". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  54. MEE staff (13 January 2021). "BBC chair donated to Quilliam because he was 'impressed' by Maajid Nawaz". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
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