<p>BBC chairman Richard Sharp on Friday announced his resignation after an inquiry found he had breached rules for failing to declare his involvement in arranging a loan for then prime minister Boris Johnson.</p>.<p>Controversy surrounding the appointment of Sharp to one of Britain's most high-profile roles had heaped pressure on Johnson's successor Rishi Sunak.</p>.<p>A week ago, Sunak lost his deputy prime minister, Dominic Raab, who was forced out after another inquiry found him guilty of bullying civil servants.</p>.<p>Sharp was formerly Sunak's boss at investment bank Goldman Sachs and is a wealthy past donor to the ruling Conservatives.</p>.<p>The chairman of the British Broadcasting Corporation is appointed by the UK monarch on the advice of the government.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/uks-former-pm-johnson-accepts-mps-misled-over-partygate-1202295.html" target="_blank">UK's former PM Johnson accepts MPs misled over 'partygate'</a></strong></p>.<p>Sharp's appointment by Johnson was criticised at the time for cronyism by a government that was said to be keen to rein in perceived critical reporting by the BBC.</p>.<p>Sharp "failed to disclose potential perceived conflicts of interest" to a committee of MPs who were vetting his appointment by Johnson in early 2021, the inquiry by a senior lawyer found.</p>.<p>"There is a risk of a perception that Mr Sharp was recommended for appointment because he assisted... the former prime minister in a private financial matter," lawyer Adam Heppinstall found.</p>.<p>In February, the same committee of MPs accused Sharp of "significant errors of judgement" for not disclosing his involvement in the loan.</p>.<p>While he was being considered for the BBC job, Sharp in late 2020 put Johnson in contact with a distant cousin of the prime minister who extended him a credit facility of £800,000 ($1 million).</p>.<p>Sharp has denied he got the job as a quid pro quo for helping out the cash-strapped Johnson, but announced his resignation hard on the heels of Heppinstall presenting his report to Sunak's government.</p>.<p>He acknowledged breaching conflict-of-interest rules for top UK officials, but said it was "inadvertent and not material" to his appointment to the BBC.</p>.<p>"Nevertheless, I have decided that it is right to prioritise the interests of the BBC," he said in a statement, confirming he would step down at the end of June to give time for a new chair to be found.</p>.<p>"I feel that this matter may well be a distraction from the Corporation's good work were I to remain in post until the end of my term."</p>
<p>BBC chairman Richard Sharp on Friday announced his resignation after an inquiry found he had breached rules for failing to declare his involvement in arranging a loan for then prime minister Boris Johnson.</p>.<p>Controversy surrounding the appointment of Sharp to one of Britain's most high-profile roles had heaped pressure on Johnson's successor Rishi Sunak.</p>.<p>A week ago, Sunak lost his deputy prime minister, Dominic Raab, who was forced out after another inquiry found him guilty of bullying civil servants.</p>.<p>Sharp was formerly Sunak's boss at investment bank Goldman Sachs and is a wealthy past donor to the ruling Conservatives.</p>.<p>The chairman of the British Broadcasting Corporation is appointed by the UK monarch on the advice of the government.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/uks-former-pm-johnson-accepts-mps-misled-over-partygate-1202295.html" target="_blank">UK's former PM Johnson accepts MPs misled over 'partygate'</a></strong></p>.<p>Sharp's appointment by Johnson was criticised at the time for cronyism by a government that was said to be keen to rein in perceived critical reporting by the BBC.</p>.<p>Sharp "failed to disclose potential perceived conflicts of interest" to a committee of MPs who were vetting his appointment by Johnson in early 2021, the inquiry by a senior lawyer found.</p>.<p>"There is a risk of a perception that Mr Sharp was recommended for appointment because he assisted... the former prime minister in a private financial matter," lawyer Adam Heppinstall found.</p>.<p>In February, the same committee of MPs accused Sharp of "significant errors of judgement" for not disclosing his involvement in the loan.</p>.<p>While he was being considered for the BBC job, Sharp in late 2020 put Johnson in contact with a distant cousin of the prime minister who extended him a credit facility of £800,000 ($1 million).</p>.<p>Sharp has denied he got the job as a quid pro quo for helping out the cash-strapped Johnson, but announced his resignation hard on the heels of Heppinstall presenting his report to Sunak's government.</p>.<p>He acknowledged breaching conflict-of-interest rules for top UK officials, but said it was "inadvertent and not material" to his appointment to the BBC.</p>.<p>"Nevertheless, I have decided that it is right to prioritise the interests of the BBC," he said in a statement, confirming he would step down at the end of June to give time for a new chair to be found.</p>.<p>"I feel that this matter may well be a distraction from the Corporation's good work were I to remain in post until the end of my term."</p>