Mr George Savvides, whose parents migrated to Australia from Cyprus, is the new Deputy Chair of the SBS Board.

In an announcement by SBS it is noted that Mr Savvides has significant management and board experience working in government-owned enterprises and not-for-profit organisations, notably as the former Managing Director of Medibank Private. In thzt role he presented Marcos Baghdatis his trophy at the 2010 Sydney International Tennis tournament when the Cypriot tennis player won. Medibank Private was the main sponsor.

Mr Savvides currently also serves as Chairman of World Vision Australia.

SBS announced that Emeritus Professor Sally Walker AM has been appointed as a non-executive director. The appointment of Ms Walker and Mr Savvides was announced by Minister for Communications and the Arts, Senator the Hon Mitch Fifield and it is for a period of five years.

The Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of SBS is Michael Ebeid and the Chairperson of the Board is Dr Bulent Hass Dellal AO. The other non-executive members of the board are: Daryl Karp, Bill Lenehan, Dot West and Peeyush Gupta.

SBS Chairman Dr Dellal said: “On behalf of the board and the SBS team, I’d like to congratulate George Savvides and Professor Sally Walker AM on their appointments and welcome them to the SBS board.

“As SBS continues to evolve and respond to the needs of contemporary multicultural Australia, our new deputy chair and board member will bring valuable insights and professional expertise from different sectors to the board.

“We look forward to their contributions in steering SBS at a time when the media landscape continues to experience change at a rapid pace, and when SBS’s role in promoting greater understanding and appreciation of the diversity of Australian society has never been so important,” Dr Dellal added.