Ofcom has announced that chief policy partner Kip Meek is to step down from the Ofcom Board with effect from early 2007.

Meek, who joined the board in March 2003, is responsible for Ofcom’s content and standards, legal and international functions.

Ofcom chairman David Currie said: “On behalf of the Board I would like to express our gratitude to Kip for his incisive leadership and significant policy achievements at Ofcom and, more widely, in Europe.”

As chairman of the independent European regulators’ group (ERG), in which he continues until January, Meek leads the work of 33 national regulatory authorities in advising the European Commission on the regulation of electronic communications markets.

Meek said: “I have enjoyed my time at Ofcom immensely. However, with the completion of my term as ERG Chairman next year – and as my fifth year with Ofcom approaches – the time is right for me to move on.”

Meek was a potential candidate for the top chief executive role at Ofcom, until former Labour advisor Ed Richards was appointed to the role last month.