Ofcom chairman David Currie will leave the regulator next Easter, it was announced today.

Currie has chaired Ofcom since its inception and has served two terms in the role.

"I look forward to working with Ofcom well into 2009 on such crucial matters as the development of policy on public service broadcasting, [next generation broadband access] and consumer protection," he said in a statement. "I continue to enjoy working with such distinguished colleagues and I am delighted that we have been able to arrange an orderly succession process."

His successor will be appointed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. The process has already begun and the departments will advertise the vacancy in September 2008.