The Australian Communications and Media Authority’s (ACMA) Deputy Chairman, Richard Bean, will take on the role of Acting Chairman, effective Saturday 27 February, while Full-time Authority Member James Cameron will become Acting Deputy Chair.
The changes, confirmed by the Minister for Communications Senator the Hon Mitch Fifield today, follow the retirement tomorrow of Chris Chapman at the conclusion of his 10-year tenure at the ACMA (consisting of two five-year appointments).
‘I am delighted to be leading an agency at the top of its game and want to thank Chris for his 10 years of outstanding leadership,’ said Richard Bean, who joined the ACMA in October 2010 for five years and was reappointed for a further two years in October 2015.
‘The ACMA is committed to acting in the public interest while remaining at the forefront of regulatory thought and practice in adapting to rapid change in almost all areas of responsibilities,’ he said.
Senator Fifield has released this statement.
The Australian Government would like to thank Chris Chapman for his decade long tenure as the Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) which concludes on 26 February 2016.
During his time at the helm, the ACMA has shown a strong sense of strategic purpose and a willingness to adapt its regulatory activities to the challenging and changing needs of the sector.
Under Mr Chapman’s leadership, the ACMA has undertaken a number of significant public programs and initiatives, including the Digital Switchover and Restack programmes, the implementation of the ‘Do Not Call Register’ and the introduction of the updated Telecommunications Consumer Protections Code in 2012.
Since its formation, the ACMA has been faced with the challenge of adapting to an increasingly sophisticated and rapidly changing communications sector, as well as the technological change challenging established industry and regulatory frameworks.
The introduction of new services and business models has seen ACMA, as a regulator, adjust to the evolving communications market. In this time, Mr Chapman has successfully shouldered the challenging task of ensuring effective regulation, while maintaining constructive relationships with regulated industry participants.
The Government would like to thank Mr Chapman for his years of service and congratulate him on his new role as President of the International Institute of Communications.