Businessmen

As the MPs of the Culture Select Committee work on their briefs for Tuesday's session, here's a few other lines to throw into the mix for their interview with BBC Chairman Richard Sharp, as they probe possible conflicts of interest.  

In November, Richard Sharp unveiled Sir Damon Buffini as a new BBC non-executive, brought in specifically to chair the Commercial Board. In December, Sharp announced that Sir Damon would also be deputy chair, a post that had previously not existed, and that Sir Damon had brought in three new non-executives to the Commercial Board. Clearly, there's nothing wrong with seeking specific expertise for a company seeking to make money, but this deputy chair business doesn't seem to be consistent with the fair selection needed for a PSB.  Mr Sharp has also increased salaries for Commercial non-executives. 

As if to demonstrate the tin-ear of entitlement, the Chairman addressed BBC senior leaders in Greenwich at the very start of this conflict of interest row, and told them he had known Sir Damon for over 20 years. Their paths would have crossed in tasks and personnel swapped between Schroders, Permira and Goldman Sachs over the years, as they both pursued benign wealth creation through the buying and selling of other people's enterprises.

Meanwhile, the exploitation and devaluation of BBC News continues apace in New York, driven by the commercial imperatives of Sharp and Buffini. 

Another good question for Mr Sharp might be to ask for a description of his typical four-day week at the BBC, his typical interactions with staff, and whether he can clearly express the differences there should be between a non-executive chairman and an executive chairman.