MUMBAI: UK pubcaster the BBC has announced the appointment of Sir Michael Lyons as chairman of the BBC Trust, the BBC's new governing body, with effect from 1 May 2007.

Chitra Bharucha, the BBC's Vice-Chairman and Acting Chairman since November 2006, has welcomed the appointment saying. "On behalf of all the Trustees, I am delighted to welcome Michael Lyons to the BBC Trust and congratulate him on his appointment as Chairman. The Trust has made important decisions in our first three months and significant challenges lie ahead. All of us look forward to working with Michael as we go forward."

Lyons said, "It is a great privilege to be appointed Chairman of the BBC Trust. As the BBC's sovereign body, our duty is to ensure the public who pay for the BBC retain overall control of their BBC. As chairman I will never lose sight of the public's core expectations of editorial independence and quality programmes across television, radio and the internet which inform, educate and entertain. I look forward to the exciting challenges of the future and working with my colleagues on the Trust to ensure the BBC provides a quality service to justify the public's continuing support."