Sir Robert Phillis announces retirement

Sir Robert Phillis, the Chief Executive of Guardian Media Group plc, is to retire at the end of July 2006. He said today: “As my colleagues are already aware, I was diagnosed with an early stage bone marrow cancer last summer. Since that time I am pleased to report that my treatment has progressed well.”

Sir Robert said that because he would undergo a bone-marrow transplant later in the year, he had decided to stand down as GMG Chief Executive this summer. He added: “By relinquishing my full time role as Chief Executive of the Group, I will be able to concentrate on my non-executive responsibilities and create the time and opportunity to pursue other interests. A search to identify my successor will be led by the Chairman, Paul Myners, and the Chair of the Scott Trust, Dame Liz Forgan, and the process will cover both internal and external candidates.”

Although Sir Robert will resign from the Scott Trust on his retirement, he has accepted an invitation to remain a member of the GMG Board as a non-executive director.

Paul Myners, Chairman of GMG said today: “The Board is hugely appreciative of everything that Bob has achieved in the eight years since he joined the Group. GMG is stronger now than at any time in its history and our overriding purpose of guaranteeing the financial independence of The Guardian has been secured under his leadership. We wish him well for the future and in the next phase of his career.”

Sir Robert, who is 60, joined GMG in December 1997 from the BBC, where he was Deputy Director-General for five years. During that period he was also Chairman and Chief Executive of BBC Worldwide, Managing Director of BBC World Service and Chairman of BBC Resources. He was previously Chief Executive of ITN, Group Managing Director of Carlton Communications and Managing Director of Central Independent Television. He is chairman of All3 Media Group Limited and also serves on the boards of ITV plc and the Lawn Tennis Association. He is President of the Royal Television Society. In 2002 he chaired the expert group which shaped Government’s approach to the structure of the UK television production sector and he also chaired the independent committee which reported on Government communications in 2004.