Bob Phillis
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Weston Phillis (3 December 1945, Croydon
– 22 December 2009) was a British
media executive with experience both in broadcasting organisations and the press.
He was educated at John Ruskin Grammar School
in Croydon, and in 1968 gained a first in Industrial Economics from Nottingham University
, where he briefly taught.
Before university Phillis had been an apprentice printer, and returned to the industry as an executive working for Thomson Regional Newspapers and the British Printing Corporation
, but briefly returned to an academic career as a lecturer in industrial relations at Edinburgh University
and the Scottish Business School (1971–75).
After a period from 1979 at Independent Television Publications, responsible for TVTimes, he became managing director of Central Television
in 1981, moving to Carlton Communications
in 1987 and ITN in 1991. He was the deputy director general of the BBC from 1993, under John Birt
. Responsible for the World Service
(1993–94) and BBC Worldwide
(1994–97), Birt described Phillis as having been "invaluable and supportive" when Phillis left the corporation.
The chief executive of the Guardian Media Group
from 1997 to 2006, he oversaw the absorption of Trader Media
, publisher of Auto Trader
magazine. In 2004, Tony Blair
asked him to head a committee looking into the effectiveness of government communications, though his recommendations "were set aside or watered down".
Bob Phillis, knighted in 2004, was married with three sons. He died from cancer
.
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
– 22 December 2009) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
media executive with experience both in broadcasting organisations and the press.
He was educated at John Ruskin Grammar School
John Ruskin College
John Ruskin College is now the first specialist vocational sixth form college in the country. It is situated in Forestdale on the A2022 , close to the A212 roundabout, on the southern edge of London's conurbation...
in Croydon, and in 1968 gained a first in Industrial Economics from Nottingham University
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
, where he briefly taught.
Before university Phillis had been an apprentice printer, and returned to the industry as an executive working for Thomson Regional Newspapers and the British Printing Corporation
Maxwell Communications Corporation
Maxwell Communications Corporation plc was a leading British media business. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.-History:...
, but briefly returned to an academic career as a lecturer in industrial relations at Edinburgh University
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
and the Scottish Business School (1971–75).
After a period from 1979 at Independent Television Publications, responsible for TVTimes, he became managing director of Central Television
Central Independent Television
Central Independent Television, more commonly known as Central is the Independent Television contractor for the Midlands, created following the restructuring of ATV and commencing broadcast on 1 January 1982. The station is owned and operated by ITV plc, under the licensee of ITV Broadcasting...
in 1981, moving to Carlton Communications
Carlton Communications
Carlton Communications was a British media company. It was led by Michael Green and listed on the London Stock Exchange from 1983 until 2 February 2004, when it taken over by Granada plc to form ITV plc with Carlton gaining 32% of the new company....
in 1987 and ITN in 1991. He was the deputy director general of the BBC from 1993, under John Birt
John Birt, Baron Birt
John Birt, Baron Birt is a former Director-General of the BBC who was in the post from 1992 to 2000.After a successful career in commercial television, first at Granada and then at LWT, Birt was brought in as deputy director-general of the BBC in 1987 for his current affairs expertise...
. Responsible for the World Service
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
(1993–94) and BBC Worldwide
BBC Worldwide
BBC Worldwide Limited is the wholly owned commercial subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation, formed out of a restructuring of its predecessor BBC Enterprises in 1995. In the year to 31 March 2010 it made a profit of £145m on a turnover of £1.074bn. The company had made a profit of £106m...
(1994–97), Birt described Phillis as having been "invaluable and supportive" when Phillis left the corporation.
The chief executive of the Guardian Media Group
Guardian Media Group
Guardian Media Group plc is a company of the United Kingdom owning various mass media operations including The Guardian and The Observer. The Group is owned by the Scott Trust. It was founded as the Manchester Guardian Ltd in 1907 when C. P. Scott bought the Manchester Guardian from the estate of...
from 1997 to 2006, he oversaw the absorption of Trader Media
Trader Media Group
Trader Media Group is a British-based publishing company, specialising in classified display advertising. It is owned by Guardian Media Group and Apax Partners ....
, publisher of Auto Trader
Auto Trader
Auto Trader is an automotive sales website and classified magazine located in the United Kingdom, owned by Trader Media Group, itself a joint venture between Guardian Media Group and Apax Partners...
magazine. In 2004, Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
asked him to head a committee looking into the effectiveness of government communications, though his recommendations "were set aside or watered down".
Bob Phillis, knighted in 2004, was married with three sons. He died from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
.