New Ofcom appointment gathers Pace

Communications watchdog Ofcom has added the non-executive chairman of a company that makes set-top boxes to its board, and has reappointed a former BT mainstay.

Mike McTighe joins Ofcom as a non-executive board member on 1 September 2007, despite currently being employed by Pace Micro Technology.

"McTighe is the non-executive chairman of Pace Micro Technology PLC which, among its other activities, supplies set-top boxes to Ofcom-regulated companies, " said an official Ofcom comment.

"In line with the board's Conflicts of Interests policy, McTighe will not see papers on or take part in board discussions in relation to those companies or any other matter which could reasonably be expected to affect the share price of Pace Micro Technology."

Millie Banerjee, who has had her position as non-executive board member at Ofcom extended until 31 December 2009, worked for 25 years at BT.

During her time there from 1970 to 1995 she rose to the level of director in the BT Products and Services division.

Ofcom chairman David Currie said that McTighe's considerable industry experience in global communications would be of great value to Ofcom, while Banerjee's re-appointment recognised her contribution to Ofcom, which she joined when it was first formed.

The appointments were made by James Purnell, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, and John Hutton, Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.

McTighe joins for a three-year term, while Banerjee adds a further two years to her tenure.