S4C: Welsh broadcaster’s chairman to exit after chief executive sacked
The under-fire chairman of a TV channel has announced he will leave the role at the end of his current term in March.
Rhodri Williams was appointed chairman of Welsh public service broadcaster S4C in 2020.
His departure comes after the broadcaster’s chief executive was sacked in November.
The position of chairperson is appointed by the UK government’s department for digital, culture, media and sport (DCMS).
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said in a letter to Mr Williams that the government would now look to replace him in the role.
Sian Doyle was dismissed as chief executive of the public service broadcaster after an investigation – conducted by commercial legal firm Capital Law – into its culture.
The report said Ms Doyle’s leadership style was “dictatorial” and found she was “creating a culture of fear”.
In her letter, Ms Frazer said Mr Williams had informed her he would not seek appointment for a second term.
She said a “significant amount of work is required to rebuild trust” and that it was “important to bring a fresh start to S4C”.
Mr Williams’s term as chairman ends on 31 March.
The Secretary of State said she would “shortly confirm the arrangements” for appointing a new chair and would work with the board to nominate an interim chair.
Mr Williams recently told a committee of Senedd members that it had been “the most difficult period” in the history of S4C.
After quizzing Mr Williams, both that committee and a group of Welsh MPs called on the government to appoint a new chair.
A spokesperson for S4C said the broadcaster was “working on a plan to ensure a successful future”.
“We will update the DCMS and the Secretary of State regarding the details as soon as possible,” they added.
“Fostering and building an open, transparent, inclusive and forward-looking culture is our utmost priority. “