DEC appoints TV executive as new chair

The Disasters Emergency Committee has appointed former ITV executive Clive Jones CBE to chair its board of trustees, following a competitive public recruitment process. He replaces former Ogilvy UK Group chairman Mike Walsh, who has chaired the DEC board since 2005.

Mr Jones is also chair of the Runnymede Trust and is a former chair of GMTV. He was awarded a CBE in 2007 for services to broadcasting.

Broadcasters are an essential element to the success of DEC appeals. The BBC, ITN, ITV, Sky and Channel 4 all help to promote the appeal in its early stages.

The DEC board is made up of the chief executive of its 13 member agencies plus six independent members.

Mr Jones said: "I am joining the DEC following the extraordinary success of its two most recent appeals for Haiti and Pakistan. I want to ensure that DEC continues to fundraise very effectively by building our presence online as well as strengthening our ties with traditional media".

www.dec.org.uk