Ian joined our board in November 2013. He also sits on the board of the Birmingham Royal Ballet and of the Belarus Free Theatre based in London.
He spent his professional life in broadcasting. From 2011 to 2015 Ian was Controller of Current Affairs and News Operations, part of the network team at the commercial broadcaster ITV. Before that he was responsible for current affairs and ITV's regional news output.
He joined the BBC in his early career, and Carlton Studios from 1994-2000, where he became Managing Director. Then he joined ITV Central and was Director of Regional Production before becoming Controller of ITV Regions and Current Affairs, 2009-2011.
He has held numerous key regional appointments including President of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry 2004-2005 (Vice President, 2002-2004); Chairman of Birmingham Repertory Theatre 2005-2013, Director of Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre 2005-2009, Chairman, Marketing Birmingham 2004-2009, and Chairman, Birmingham City Pride 2001-2004.
His directorships have included West Midlands Life 1999-2003, Director of Birmingham City University 2005-2009, Fair Cities Birmingham 2005-2007 and Midland Heart Housing Associations 2007-2009.
In 1987 he won a BAFTA Award for Best Arts Programme for A Simple Man, a TV ballet on life of LS Lowry. More recent programmes he has commissioned have received Royal Television Society and Broadcasting Press Guild awards, and in 2013 the Peabody Award in the United States together with an International Emmy.