Peter is a visionary strategic leader committed to delivering commercial and public purpose outcomes through digital transformation. He has extensive experience in public policy, commercial growth and organisational reform, as well as cross-sector experience at Board level in higher education and media.

 

Currently developing his non-executive portfolio career, in July 2021, Peter was appointed Non-executive Chair at Cardiff-based online learning provider, Learna Ltd. In 2019, he was appointed Chair of the Southeast Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP). Peter plays a key role in advocating for the Southeast Midlands’ economy, raising the profile of SEMLEP to ministers, businesses and investors on national platforms. In November 2020, Peter was appointed to the Content Board of Ofcom. The Content Board is a committee of the main Ofcom Board and it advises on a wide range of content issues, including the regulation of television, radio and video-on-demand quality and standards. Additionally, he is cuurently chair of Oxford Cambridge Pan Regional Partnership as of 2022.

 

Peter stepped down as Vice-Chancellor of The Open University in 2018 after three years. He also served as Chair of the Board for FutureLearn, a private company wholly owned by The Open University, which provides free, online courses in partnership with over 50 universities and institutions worldwide.

 

Peter was previously Director of BBC World Service Group. His team provided trusted news to over a quarter-of-a-billion people globally every week. He had responsibility for a global workforce of 3000, with annual revenues exceeding £400 million.

 

Peter has an international reputation for thought leadership in major digital transformations. He led the transition of BBC News to become a multiplatform organisation in 2008. In 2012, he conceived and delivered the 'World’s Newsroom', the BBC’s innovative concept for the world’s leading multilingual, multimedia digital news operation.

 

As a journalist, he has excelled in investigative and analytical programmes, becoming Editor of the Newsnight and Panorama programmes and winning two BAFTA awards. Peter also has extensive experience in crisis management, both in reporting and handling within his own organisations.