Neil Watts (pictured) is a former Head Teacher and educational consultant, as well as a former Deputy Chairman of the Advertising Standards Authority. He joins the Commission with immediate effect following the expiry of a term of office by the former MP and MSP John Home Robertson.
Lord Hunt said: "We are extremely pleased to welcome Neil Watts onto the Commission. He joins at an interesting time, as we all work hard to bring about the regeneration and renewal of the PCC. It is vital that the Commission has strong and varied public representation, and I am sure Neil's experience and expertise, including serving on a similar self-regulatory body, will make him a significant addition to the Board.
I also wish to pay tribute to the work of John Home Robertson. Our tenures have not coincided but I know from colleagues that he has contributed greatly and judiciously to the Commission's judgements over the last three years."
Neil Watts said: "I am delighted to become a public member of the Press Complaints Commission. This is clearly an important time for the PCC and self-regulation of the press. Under a new Chair, it has the chance to reinvigorate itself, and do ever more to maintain standards in the press. I am excited about the challenge, and want to build on the past successes of the PCC, as well as help to guide its onward improvement. The PCC has a vital role to play in maintaining a balance between freedom of expression and protection of the individual, and I am looking forward to playing my part in its future."
Public, or 'lay', members of the Commission are appointed by a process of open recruitment, including public advertisement and interview. The recruitment process was overseen by an external independent assessor. Full details of the application process, and a copy of the job advert and description, can be seen here.
There are seventeen members of the Commission. Ten members - including the Chair - are lay Commissioners who have no connection to the industry, while seven are drawn from among the ranks of senior editors in the national and regional press, and from periodicals.
