Greg Dyke Named BAFTA Vice President for Television

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts has announced that Greg Dyke has been appointed its Vice President for Television.

As Vice President, Greg Dyke will chair BAFTA's Council, support the Academy's President, HRH The Duke of Cambridge, and assume an ambassadorial role for the charity across the television sector. Previous Vice Presidents for Television have been Michael Grade CBE (2004-2010) and Sophie Turner Laing (2010-2015). BAFTA can appoint up to three Vice Presidents, one in each of the three sectors of film, television and games, who can serve a term of up to six years.

Greg Dyke said: "I was delighted to be asked to be a Vice President of BAFTA. After eight years at the BFI, I am pleased to be staying in the television and film industries where, hopefully, I can use my understanding of both to good purpose. BAFTA is a great organisation."

Anne Morrison, Chair of BAFTA, said: "Greg Dyke is an inspirational leader whose characteristic energy and positivity will be a huge asset to BAFTA as our new Vice President for Television. Greg will be a terrific ambassador for the Academy, and I am sure we will benefit greatly from his ideas and support."

Greg Dyke was educated at Hayes Grammar School and later at York University where he read Politics. After an early career as a journalist, he started his broadcasting career in 1977 at London Weekend Television. He became Editor-in-Chief of TV-am in 1983 and the following year Director of Programmes for TVS. He returned to LWT in 1987 as Director of Programmes; and from 1991 to 1994 he was Group Chief Executive of LWT (Holdings) plc.

He joined Pearson Television as Chief Executive in 1994. He guided the consortium which created Channel 5 and became its first Chairman. During this early period of his career he was also Chairman of GMTV and at various times a director of Pearson plc, Channel Four Television, ITN and BSkyB.

He was a non-Executive Director of Manchester United Football Club 1997-1999 and was a Trustee of the Science Museum 1995-2005.

In January 2000 he became Director-General of the BBC and in his four years at the BBC he started four new digital television channels, five new digital radio channels, opened two new BBC regions, launched the BBC's interactive television services and helped create Freeview, a new free to air digital platform. He also made major commitments to expand the BBC's education services and to improve the cultural diversity of the workforce.

After leaving the BBC in January 2004 he was made Chancellor of the University of York in December 2004. He was Chairman of HiT, a large international television production company specialising in programmes for the under-fives from 2005 to 2012. From 2006-2013, he was Chairman of Brentford Football Club and was Chairman of the British Film Institute from 2008-2016, from which he received the BFI Fellowship for his outstanding contribution to television and film.

He is currently Chairman of The Football Association and is Chairman of ATG, Britain's largest theatre Group. He runs several businesses of his own including golf clubs and hotels. His autobiography entitled Greg Dyke: INSIDE STORY was published in September 2004 by Harper Collins.

Source & Image: BAFTA.org

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