Tough choices and hard decisions are to come at theBBC.
Shah added today: Arguably the most important of my responsibilities is to safeguard [the BBCs] independence.
Our reputation here, and in the rest of the world, rests on this fundamental concept.
Samir Shahparliamentlive.tv
Last year, I even assisted the Second Thematic Review on Migration.
Clearly, I am finding it hard to say goodbye to the place!
I am also lucky to be inheriting a focused and dedicated Board.
So, what will my appointment as Chair mean for the BBC?
In fact, I am sure many of you are probably wondering what a Chair actually does.
Arguably the most important of my responsibilities is to safeguard its independence.
Our reputation here, and in the rest of the world, rests on this fundamental concept.
But I join at a crucial time.
Can we stay relevant to the lives of the British people?
These are increasingly asked, both at street level and in the corridors of power.
The challenge posed by those questions must be demonstrably met.
Show, dont tell, as the saying goes.
We must be the home of the most trusted news across the UK and, indeed, the world.
And we must also simply be a home.
In a world where there are forces fracturing society, we should be a sanctuary for empathy and understanding.
All this is made possible because the British public pay for the BBC.
In the coming years there is going to be a national debate about how to fund what we do.
The success story that is our commercial operations will of course help the money go further.
But we will still need to live within our means in a tough financial situation.
That involves thinking very hard about what we should stop doing or do very differently.
But its not all about pounds, shillings, and pence.
As Einstein reputedly said, not everything that counts can be counted.
