Sky’s the limit as Gilbert joins broadcaster’s board

BSKYB has hired a prominent Scottish businessman and a top investment banker to the ranks of the satellite broadcaster’s non-executive directors.

James Murdoch, BSkyB’s chairman, said yesterday that Martin Gilbert, founder and chief executive of Aberdeen Asset Management, and Matthieu Pigasse, chief executive of Lazard France and vice-chairman of Lazard Europe, would “bring wide ranging expertise”.

Murdoch said they both had substantial experience of UK public companies.

Gilbert is also chairman of FirstGroup, the Aberdeen‑based transport business that is Britain’s biggest bus operator. He was recently appointed as adjunct professor of finance at London Imperial College’s Tanaka Business School.

The two men are expected to be appointed at the BSkyB AGM on 29 November, when Allan Leighton and David Evans will retire from the board.