Sir Ian Cheshire, the former head of B&Q and a city heavyweight, has been appointed as Channel 4’s new chairman.

Sir Ian formerly served as chairman of Barclays UK and as CEO of home improvement retailer Kingfisher. His appointment comes amid growing anticipation that the Government may approve the privatisation of the public service broadcaster. Sir Ian comes to the job with outstanding contacts among the establishment. He chairs the Prince of Wales Charitable Fund and formerly served as the Cabinet Office’s chief non-executive director.

Labour has denounced the appointment, which comes only days after Lord Michael Grade was named chairman of the communications regulator Ofcom. Lord Grade formerly served as a Conservative peer but is now expected to sit on the crossbench.

Culture secretary Nadine Dorries expressed delight at Ofcom’s decision that Sir Ian will take the helm of the broadcaster, saying: “I am delighted to approve Sir Ian Cheshire as the new chair of Channel 4.

Sir Ian has an impressive record at the helm of some of Britain’s biggest businesses and I am confident his proven leadership will help Channel 4 go from strength to strength and ensure it thrives long into the future amid a time of rapid change for the sector.”

Sir Ian said: “I am excited to be joining Channel 4 at this vitally important time for public service broadcasting. As it transforms for a new era of media consumption, I look forward to helping Channel 4 deliver for viewers right across the UK for many years to come.”

But shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell said: “Coming fresh off the heels of the appointment of a Tory peer as head of Ofcom, this decision stinks of more cronyism. Rather than advancing their war on Channel 4, one of the biggest drivers of creative jobs outside London, the Tories should focus on independent appointees who can do the job.”

However, Maggie Carver, Ofcom’s interim chair, said: “Sir Ian is a terrific appointment for Channel 4. He has a distinguished track record in both public and private service, and will ensure the highest standards of governance and accountability as a hugely experienced chair of other major boards.”

Sir Ian made headlines in October 2019 when he declared Boris Johnson’s Brexit plan “acceptable” and urged the country to proceed, warning of the dangers of prolonged delays to consumer and investor confidence.

Sir Ian was appointed chief executive of B&Q in 2005 before taking over as chairman of Kingfisher in 2008. He now serves as chairman of Spire Healthcare plc, Menhaden plc, and the Mental Health at Work Leadership Council, in addition to serving as a non-executive director of BT plc.

He has served as chairman of the British Retail Consortium, Debenhams plc, and Maisons Du Monde SA, as well as as a senior independent director of Whitbread plc. He has also served as chair of the Government’s “ecosystem markets task force” and the economy’s honours committee, and he currently serves as chair of the independent Food Farming and Countryside Commission.

He was knighted in the 2014 New Year Honours for his contributions to “business, sustainability, and the environment” and is a Chevalier of France’s Ordre National du Merite.

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