The BBFC today announced the appointment of David Cooke as the new Director of the BBFC.
Mr Cooke is currently Associate Political Director at the Northern Ireland Office and has a wide experience of regulatory policy and practice in broadcasting, drugs, immigration, and criminal justice.
He will be taking up the post in September when the current Director, Robin Duval, retires.
David Cooke said:
“As a regular film-goer with a long-standing interest in film and film criticism I am delighted to be bringing my regulatory experience to the post of Director of the BBFC. It is vital for the classification process to be independent, fair and open; to command public confidence; and to be responsive to social concerns. Under Robin Duval, the BBFC has consolidated its expertise, communicated clearly the basis for its decisions and achieved high standards of productivity. I am greatly looking forward to working with the staff of the BBFC, the Presidential Team, the Council of Management and the Board's advisory bodies and stakeholders so that the Board can continue going from strength to strength.”
Robin Duval said:
“I am delighted to be handing over the reins to such a talented and able individual. I first came across David in the 1980s when we were both involved in broadcast regulation, and have admired his outstanding commonsense and sound judgement. Since then he has shown a diverse range of talents at the most senior levels of Whitehall in management and policy making.
“The BBFC is now a sizeable organization with a staff of over 60, including more than 20 full time professional examiners. It is currently handling more than 14,000 films and videoworks a year. The Director's job today is to lead the BBFC through an increasingly complex range of regulatory, legal and policy issues. David is the ideal appointment to lead the Board.”
David Cooke joined the Civil Service in 1977 and has worked in the Home Office, the Cabinet Office and the Northern Ireland Office. He has held six Director-level posts. In the Home Office Broadcasting Department between 1987 and 1990, David was responsible for policy on radio, cross-media ownership, broadcast programme standards and constitutional issues. He helped set up the Broadcasting Standards Council and Radio Authority and coordinated the White Paper Broadcasting: Competition, Choice and Quality and the Broadcasting Act 1990.
The post of Director was filled through open competition.
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