Former Culture Secretary Chris Smith to be new ASA Chairman

07 November 2006

The Advertising Standards Board of Finance (asbof) and its broadcast equivalent, basbof, have appointed The Rt Hon Lord Smith of Finsbury to be the new Chairman of the Advertising Standards Authority.  He will succeed the current Chairman, Lord Borrie QC, on 1 July 2007.

Lord Smith was Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and a member of the Cabinet 1997-2001, and has held a wide variety of senior appointments in public service and in the arts, culture, media and other creative industries. 

Winston Fletcher, Chairman of asbof and basbof, the boards of which jointly made the appointment, said:  “The boards of asbof and basbof greatly welcome Chris Smith’s acceptance of our invitation to become Chairman of the ASA.  We are absolutely delighted to have someone of the stature and experience of Chris Smith to follow Gordon Borrie.  We have no doubt that he will make as outstanding a contribution to the future of the ASA as Gordon Borrie himself has made during his six years in office.”

Lord Smith said:  “The ASA is an example of self-regulation working at its best.  It has a distinguished record of keeping the work of advertisers and advertising – one of our most important creative industries – on the right road.  I look forward to taking forward its important work.”
 
Lord Borrie, who was appointed January 2001, said: “I am delighted to hear that Chris Smith is to be the new Chairman of the ASA. He has had a distinguished career in public service and the arts. He is fair minded and effective”. 

Ofcom, the DTI and the DCMS have been informed of Lord Smith’s appointment, which they too greatly welcome.

The position was advertised in June 2006 and attracted a large number of highly qualified candidates.