FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Report of Foreign Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a - 16 or 15d - 16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of December, 2007
07 December, 2007
BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC
(Name of Registrant)
Grant Way, Isleworth, Middlesex, TW7 5QD England
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F
Form 20-F X Form 40-F
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Yes No X
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): Not Applicable
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
EXHIBIT NO.1 Press release of British Sky Broadcasting Group plc
announcing Board Changes released on 07 December, 2007
BSkyB Group plc announces Board changes
.Rupert Murdoch steps down from the Board
.James Murdoch appointed Non-Executive Chairman
.Jeremy Darroch appointed Chief Executive Officer
.Selection process underway for new Chief Financial Officer
The Board of British Sky Broadcasting Group plc ("Sky" or the "Company") today
announced that Rupert Murdoch has decided to step down as Chairman and as a
Director of the Company. He is succeeded as Non-Executive Chairman by James
Murdoch, who was appointed to Sky's Board as a Non-Executive Director in
February 2003 and has served as Chief Executive Officer since November 2003. The
appointment was made following consultation with major shareholders. James
Murdoch is leaving his post as CEO to take a new executive position at News
Corporation.
The Board has appointed Jeremy Darroch, previously Sky's Chief Financial
Officer, as Chief Executive Officer. The decision follows a review of potential
candidates from inside and outside the Company by the Independent Non-Executive
Directors.
Since joining Sky in August 2004, Mr Darroch has worked closely with James
Murdoch in setting strategic direction for the Company and has been deeply
involved in the running of the business at all levels. He joined Sky from retail
group DSG International plc (then Dixons Group plc), where he held the position
of Group Finance Director. Prior to DSG, he spent 12 years at Procter & Gamble
in a variety of roles in the UK and Europe. Mr Darroch is also a Non-Executive
Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Marks & Spencer plc.
The Board has initiated the process to select a new Chief Financial Officer. A
further announcement will be made in due course.
The changes were overseen by Nicholas Ferguson, Sky's Senior Independent
Non-Executive Director, working in close consultation with Lord Rothschild,
Deputy Chairman, and Lord Wilson of Dinton, Chairman of the Corporate Governance
and Nominations Committee, and were approved unanimously by the Board.
Speaking on behalf of the Board, Nicholas Ferguson said:
"With these changes, the Board has taken action to ensure continuity of
world-class leadership at Sky. Jeremy has played a crucial role in the company's
transformation. He is the first Chief Executive to be appointed from within Sky
and is the unanimous choice of the Board to lead the company's continued growth.
Under James and Jeremy, Sky has accelerated its rate of growth and, with the
outstanding management team in place, is prospering in both entertainment and
communications.
"We are delighted that James has accepted the appointment as Non-Executive
Chairman. The Board is committed to high standards of corporate governance and
seeks to comply with the Combined Code. We are well aware of its terms with
respect to independence. Sky has strong Independent Directors and we were quite
clear that our overriding duty in selecting a Chairman was to do what was in the
best interest of the Company and its shareholders. We were unanimous in our
decision that the appointment of James meets this key test given his deep
knowledge and understanding of the strategic issues facing the Company and the
industries in which we operate, his commitment to Sky, and the continuity this
provides.
"Under the leadership of Jeremy, and with James as Non-Executive Chairman, this
is the right, strong team to take Sky forward with an effective strategy for
growth in the fast changing media and communications marketplace.
"Finally, on behalf of the whole Board and the shareholders, I would like to
express our warmest gratitude for, and pay tribute to, the unparalleled
contribution made by Rupert Murdoch over the last eighteen years. His spirit and
vision have been instrumental in building one of Britain's great companies."
Rupert Murdoch became a Director of the Company in 1990 and has served as
Chairman since 1999. Over the course of his involvement, Sky has grown from a
start-up to Europe's most valuable pay TV company, reaching one in three
households in the UK and Ireland.
Rupert Murdoch said:
"Sky is a special company with a deeply held belief that people benefit from
increased choice. Today more customers are choosing Sky than ever before as the
company strives to offer the best choice, quality and value in an expanding
marketplace. This progress has been achieved by an accomplished executive team
under the leadership of James and Jeremy. I am confident that they and their
colleagues will continue to set the pace in our industry."
James Murdoch said:
"The team at Sky has demonstrated the success that can be achieved with an
appetite for change and a single-minded focus on customers. I am pleased to have
the opportunity to become Non-Executive Chairman and I look forward to
supporting Jeremy in his role as Chief Executive. Sky's transformation is
progressing well and both Jeremy and I are committed to seeing it through."
Jeremy Darroch said:
"Few companies of Sky's scale have its capacity for moving quickly, seizing
opportunities and thriving on a culture of change. Sky's success is a testament
to the talent of my colleagues and I'm excited and privileged to lead a company
that touches so many families across the UK and Ireland. We are well positioned
and I am committed to pursuing a strategy that further deepens our customer
relationships and creates significant value for shareholders."
END
NOTES
1. Independent Non-Executive Directors:
Lord Rothschild (Deputy Chairman, member of the Corporate Governance &
Nominations Committee)
Nicholas Ferguson (Senior Independent Non-Executive)
David Evans
Andrew Higginson
Allan Leighton
Jacques Nasser
Gail Rebuck
Lord Wilson of Dinton (Chairman of the Corporate Governance & Nominations
Committee)
2. James Murdoch intends to offer himself for reappointment by shareholders at
the Company's 2008 Annual General Meeting
3. It has been announced separately today that James Murdoch has been appointed
to the new executive position of Chairman and Chief Executive, Europe and Asia,
News Corporation.
4. Biographical Details:
James Murdoch
James Murdoch has been a Director of Sky since February 2003 and its Chief
Executive Officer since November 2003. Prior to his appointment as CEO, he was
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Star Group Limited. Mr Murdoch serves on
the Board of Yankee Global Enterprises, the Board of Trustees of the Harvard
Lampoon and the Leadership Council of The Climate Group.
Jeremy Darroch
Jeremy Darroch was appointed as Chief Financial Officer and a Director of Sky in
August 2004. He was previously Group Finance Director of DSG International plc
(then Dixons Group plc), which he joined in January 2000 as Retail Finance
Director. Prior to Dixons, he spent 12 years at Procter & Gamble in a variety of
roles in the UK and Europe, latterly as European Finance Director for their
Health Care businesses. Mr Darroch is a Non-Executive Director and Chairman of
the Audit Committee of Marks & Spencer plc.
Nicholas Ferguson
Nicholas Ferguson was appointed as a Director of the Company in June 2004 and
Senior Independent Non-Executive Director in June 2007. Mr Ferguson is Chairman
of SVG Capital plc, a publicly-quoted private equity group, and was formerly
Chairman of Schroder Ventures. He is also Chairman of the Courtauld Institute of
Art and the Institute of Philanthropy.
Enquiries:
Analysts/Investors:
Andrew Griffith Tel: 020 7705 3118
Robert Kingston Tel: 020 7705 3726
E-mail: investor-relations@bskyb.com
Press:
Matthew Anderson Tel: 020 7705 3267
Robert Fraser Tel: 020 7705 3036
E-mail: corporate.communications@bskyb.com
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC
Date: 07 December, 2007 By: /s/ Dave Gormley
Dave Gormley
Company Secretary