Burke at the BBC

BBC DG Mark Thompson has today welcomed Simon Burke as a new non-executive director to the BBC board, saying "It's the combination of his experience in the entertainment industry with a proven commitment to culture and public service that makes Simon's appointment such a great asset for the BBC, and I am looking forward to working with him."

Simon, 51, qualified as an accountant with Binder Hamlyn in Dublin in 1980, joining Coopers &  Lybrand in London in 1982. In 1987 he joined Virgin Retail, and then Virgin Entertainment, where he was CEO from 1996 to 1999. Then he chaired Hamley's PLC for four years - just down Regent Street from Broadcasting House - turning round the nation's most famous toyshop and selling it on. He's also served as non exec and then Chairman of Majestic Wines, until August this year. It would be interesting to know how many accounts the BBC has with Majestic Wines - I bet Simon has an idea.

He's kept an interest in alcohol sales with a move to deputy chairman of Mitchell & Butlers, piloted into the company with the backing of Irish horse-race tycoons John Magnier and J.P. McManus.  In striding distance of BH, they run All Bar One on Regent Street, the Phoenix in Cavendish Square, the Argyll, near the Palladium, the Albany in Great Portland Street, the Green Man in Riding House Street, and the Crown and Sceptre in Great Titchfield Street.  Plenty of opportunities to engage with BBC staff there...

He's Chairman of Superquinn, a chain of 23 supermarkets in Ireland; this month he's also become Chairman of Hobbycraft UK; and he's a columnist for Retail Week (which seems to break a lot of news about Burke's appointments). He has a pilot's licence, and likes astronomy, music and medieval history.