Charles is currently board chair at Oxfam, the Migration Museum in London and Great Rail Journeys Ltd. He is also a trustee of English Heritage. Charles last week stepped down as chair of Channel 4, following a six year term.
He has previously held board appointments in a number of industries, including with Virgin Mobile, LoveFilm, easyJet and the National Trust. In his earlier executive career, he was chief executive of Thomson Travel Group, executive chairman of TUI Northern Europe and a director at British Airways.
Ole Jacob Sunde, chair of the Scott Trust, said: “Over the last few years, both our journalism and our business model have taken strides to become truly digital. Charles brings deep commercial experience to this vital role, and I am certain that under his guidance we can strengthen our position as a global news media organisation.”
Charles Gurassa said: “I am delighted to be taking up this role at such a vital time for Guardian Media Group. I have been an admirer and reader of the Guardian for many years, and its purpose as an independent media organisation has never been more vital, both in the UK and globally. I look forward to working with my new colleagues to achieve the Guardian’s commercial ambitions, in support of its vital journalistic mission.”
Charles Gurassa will take up his role as GMG board chair in March 2022, when current chair Neil Berkett steps down having been a member of the GMG board since 2009, and chair since 2013.
Ole Jacob Sunde added: “On behalf of the Scott Trust, his GMG board colleagues and the entire organisation, I would like to thank Neil Berkett for his service and dedication, in one of the most challenging periods in our history. His leadership, strategic judgement and commercial acumen have been vital to setting us up for a more sustainable and optimistic future for GMG. We thank him, and wish him all the best.”
Neil Berkett said: “Chairing the GMG board over the last eight years has been a true privilege and a highlight of my career. Despite the volatility the media sector has been through, the board, management team and most importantly the staff of the organisation have had many tremendous successes, turning the Guardian from a leading British newspaper and website into one of the world’s leading digital news media organisations. I will remain a strong supporter of Guardian journalism and of all of their work, and will be wishing them nothing but success.”
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