The chairman of AO, the online electrical goods retailer, has been interviewed to become the next chair of state-owned broadcaster Channel 4.
Sky News has learnt that Geoff Cooper, a former boss of the builders’ merchant Travis Perkins, is among the candidates in the running to take on the post in the coming months.
Whitehall insiders said that Mr Cooper was now one of the shortlisted contenders awaiting news of whether they would get the nod from Ofcom, the media regulator and culture secretary Lisa Nandy.
In recent weeks, Sky News has revealed that those vying to replace Sir Ian Cheshire include Justin King, the former J Sainsbury boss; Wol Kolade, a private equity executive who has donated substantial sums of money to the Conservative Party; Debbie Wosskow, a start-up founder who already sits on the Channel 4 board.
Simon Dingemans, a former Goldman Sachs banker who sits on the board of WPP, the marketing services group, has also been shortlisted, according to the Financial Times.
Sir Ian stepped down earlier this year after just one term, having presided over a successful attempt to thwart privatisation by the last Tory government.
He was replaced on an interim basis by Dawn Airey, the media industry executive who has occupied top jobs at companies including ITV, Channel 5 and Yahoo!.
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The race to lead the state-owned broadcaster’s board has acquired additional importance since after the resignation of Alex Mahon, its long-serving chief executive.
It has since been reported that Alex Burford, another Channel 4 non-executive director and the boss of Warner Records UK, is a possible contender to replace Ms Mahon.
A vocal opponent of Channel 4’s privatisation, which was abandoned by the last Conservative government, Ms Mahon is leaving to join Superstruct, a private equity-owned live entertainment company.
The appointment of a new chair is expected to take place by the autumn, with the chosen candidate expected to lead the recruitment of Ms Mahon’s successor.
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The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has declined to comment on the recruitment process, while Mr Cooper could not be reached for comment.
