Lord Patten 'eyes BBC Trust chair'

Lord Patten of Barnes, the last British governor of Hong Kong, has reportedly joined a list of high profile candidates vying to become the next chairman of the BBC Trust.

According to The Daily Telegraph, sources close to the recruitment process claim that Lord Patten has applied to replace Sir Michael Lyons when he steps down in March next year.

The former Conservative minister is thought to have been placed on a list of preferred candidates by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

The next chairman of the BBC's governing body will need to have a corporate background, but also boast experience of the public sector and international operations.

Lord Patten fits the bill, as he is chancellor of Oxford University and acts as an advisor to petroleum giant BP, telecoms firm Hutchison Europe and investment group BMB. He also sits on the advisory board of private equity firm Bridgepoint Capital.

Other candidates believed to be in the frame to lead the Trust include BBC trustees Dame Patricia Hodgson and Anthony Fry, along with YouGov chairman Roger Parry and former Ofcom regulator Richard Hooper.

Sony chief executive Sir Howard Stringer has been approached for the role, but is not thought to have taken it any further.

Other corporate heavyweights to have ruled themselves out of the process include former Marks & Spencer boss Sir Stuart Rose, as well as Helen Alexander and Dame Marjorie Scardino.

Interviews with shortlisted candidates will go ahead on January 27 and 28, with an appointment due to follow in the spring.

The new BBC Trust chair will be appointed on a four-year term with an annual salary of £110,000 for a three-to-four day working week - £21,000 less than Lyons is currently paid.