- Lionel Barber is on the cusp of taking over role from Lord Browne of Madingley
- This is despite telling colleagues this would be inappropriate, it was reported
- Concerns have been raised over whether the appointment would compromise his impartiality as editor of the Japanese-owned paper
The editor of the Financial Times is poised to be confirmed as chairman of the charity that runs the Tate galleries, raising fears of a conflict of interest.
Lionel Barber is on the cusp of taking over from ex-BP chief Lord Browne of Madingley, despite telling colleagues this would be inappropriate, it was reported last night.
Concerns have been raised over whether the 62-year-old’s appointment as Tate chairman would compromise his impartiality as editor of the Japanese-owned paper, The Times reported.
Lionel Barber (pictured) is on the cusp of taking over from ex-BP chief Lord Browne of Madingley as chairman of the charity that runs the Tate galleries
Tate is reliant on corporate sponsorship and one of the chairman’s responsibilities is to secure external funding.
The galleries have corporate sponsorship deals with a range of financial and legal institutions, which would expect to be scrutinised by the paper.
But questions will inevitably be asked as to how donations to art galleries may affect its coverage of the companies.
Michael Hall, editor of arts journal the Burlington Magazine, described the imminent appointment as ‘odd’.
He told The Times: ‘I would hope that upon appointment he would address these potential conflicts of interest.’
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