Design Council in hunt for Cox successor

Design Council in hunt for Cox successor

The Design Council has begun its search for a chairman to replace Sir George Cox (pictured) whose tenure ends in December.

The Secretaries of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, and for Culture, Media and Sport – John Denham and James Purnell respectively – are looking to appoint the chair of the non-executive board at the Design Council.

The new chair will be a ‘widely respected leader in business or the public sector, with a commitment to design’.

Cox was appointed in August 2004, taking over from Professor Sir Christopher Frayling, and is recognised as having pushed design and innovation up the Government’s agenda.

He oversaw the publication of the Cox Review in 2005, which set out a series of policy recommendations for Government, business, broadcasting and education in a bid to maintain the global competitiveness of the UK’s creative industries. This month, Cox was awarded an honorary degree by Northumbria University. Prior to his appointment at the Design Council, he was director-general of the Institute of Directors.

The search is being handled by Odgers Ray & Berndtson, and the appointment is initially for a period of three years, with the possibility of renewal. The time commitment is expected to be about 16 days a year.