Former BBC Director General named as new Make It York chair

He’s been the top man at the BBC and the FA – and now he’s is joining Make It York as its new chair.

Greg Dyke, the former BBC Director General, will take over from founding chair Jane, Lady Gibson.

Greg Dyke was Chancellor of the University of York between 2004 and 2015 and was a student at the university in the 1970s where he read politics. Before his role at the BBC he was chief executive of London Weekend Television.

In more recent years he has been chair of the Football Association, the British Film Institute and the Ambassador Theatre Group.

He resigned as DG of the BBC following heavy criticism of the BBC’s news reporting process in the Hutton Inquiry.

Greg’s appointment to Make It York has to be ratified by the Staffing Matters and Urgencies Committee at City of York Council on 9 December.

Special relationship

Greg Dyke said today:

• I have had a special relationship with York over many years. Coming to the University of York in my mid-twenties quite literally changed my life.

  When I first came to York in the Seventies I had been offered places at a couple of other universities but I just fell in love with the city when I came up for an interview.

  At the age of 25, I bought my first house here in York.

  I got involved with the city again when I became Chancellor of the University in 2004. I carried out the role for 11 years and loved doing it. It meant I was involved both with the university and the city.
  

His interest in football spans a period as chair of Brentford FC, his childhood team, the FA role – and York City.

“In my years as a student in York I regularly supported York City FC and was lucky to be here the year they got promoted to the old second division,” he said.

“I’ve always followed their results and it’s good to see they are finally recovering after some tough years. Hopefully moving to the new stadium will bring them more success.”

Delighted with new role

He described his new role with Make It York as exciting. It will “involve me in many of the areas where I have a background – films, theatre, business, education and culture generally as well as inward investment and helping to plan an exciting future for York”.

Sean Bullick, managing director of Make It York, said:

• Greg’s great experience in a broad range of areas, his knowledge of York, and his networks nationally and internationally will be enormously helpful to Make It York as we work, together with partners across the city and region, to take York to the next stage in its development.
  

Greg is expected to start in his new role this January.