Commissioner Quits Probe Into BBC Chairman’s Appointment Over Conflict of Interest

William Shawcross with his Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (RVO) medal, presented by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II during an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London, on March 10, 2011. Dominic Lipinski - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Public Appointments Commissioner William Shawcross has recused himself from the investigation into Richard Sharp’s appointment as BBC chairman because he has met Sharp in the past.

Shawcross said on Jan. 23 that he would review the competition that led to Sharp’s appointment after allegations emerged that Sharp had helped secure an £800,000 ($987,000) loan guarantee for former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who later appointed him to the BBC position.