FOSTER APPOINTED TO STRATEGIC ITC POST

ROBIN Foster has been appointed by the Independent Television Commission (ITC) to the new position of Director of Strategy, Economics and Finance.
In that role, he will lead the ITC team of economists, audience research, and finance specialists, working across broadcasting and the wider communications sector.
Over the past five months, Foster has acted as a consultant to the ITC on ‘The ITC Breakthrough Project’, which has identified a new structure and set of strategic priorities for the ITC in the digital world. He has also helped the ITC develop their contribution to the UK Communications White Paper.
Foster started his career as an Economics Consultant with the Economist Intelligence Unit, was Director of the Communications Practice in the London office of Economic Consultants, National Economic Research Associates (NERA), and held a number of senior posts at the BBC.
As Director of Strategy at the BBC, he played a leading role in broadcast strategy and policy, helped develop and launch the BBC's digital TV channels and online service. At NERA, he provided senior level advice to governments, regulators, and businesses on a range of economic and competition policy issues in the telecoms and broadcasting sectors, both in the UK and overseas, including work on spectrum auctions, privatisation of state owned broadcasters, and telecoms access pricing and regulation.
Sir Robin Biggam, Chairman of the ITC, said: “Robin brings to the ITC a unique mix of economic and strategic skills in both the broadcasting and telecommunications sectors. I am very pleased that he is joining us on a permanent basis”.
Alongside his new ITC role, Foster will continue his work as a Senior Research Fellow at Bournemouth Media School, where he is helping to develop a research programme into different aspects of public service broadcasting. (CD)