A leading financier and donor of the conservative party is one of the contenders in the running to the president of Channel 4, the public broadcaster.
Sky News learned Whitehall sources that Wol Kolade was pre -selected to replace Sir Ian Cheshire at the head of the company.
Mr. Kolade, who donated hundreds of thousands of pounds to the conservative chests, is said that Whitehall Insiders was one of the rare candidates for the role.
A recommendation from OFCOM, the media regulator, to the secretary of culture Lisa Nandy about her recommendation for the presidency of Channel 4 is considered imminent.
Mr. KOLADE, who heads the LIVINGBRIDGE Investment Capital Company, has occupied non-executive roles, including a seat on the board of directors of NHS Improvement.
He refused to comment when he was contacted by Sky News on Monday.
His candidacy presents him against rivals, notably Justin King, the former managing director of J Sainsbury, who resigned last week as president of Ovo Energy.
Debbie Wosskow, an existing non -executive director of Channel 4 who applied for the role of president, also said that government sources went to the restricted list.
Sir Ian resigned earlier this year after a single mandate, having presided over a successful attempt to thwart privatization by the last conservative government.
The presidency of Channel 4 is currently organized acting by Dawn Airey, the framework of the media industry which has occupied high -level jobs in companies such as ITV, Channel 5 and Yahoo!.
The race to direct the State broadcaster council has acquired additional importance since the resignation of Alex Mahon, its longtime managing director.
It has since been reported that Alex Burford, another non -executive director of Channel 4 and the boss of Warner Records UK, wanted to replace Ms. Mahon.
Ms. Mahon, who was a vocal opponent of the privatization of Channel 4, leaves to join Superstruc, an entertainment company in private actions.
The appointment of a new president should take place by the fall, the chosen candidate who should lead the recruitment of Ms. Mahon’s successor.
The Department of Culture, Media and Sport refused to comment on the recruitment process.