Not enough of a Gent

20 February 2004 By Hugo Dixon

The former Vodafone boss has reportedly been turned down as chairman of ITV and Sainsbury because he is too political and inexperienced. These grounds look bogus. Could the real reason be that troubled companies fear Gent would take them by the scruff of the neck?

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Sir Chris Gent, the former Vodafone chief executive, was not considered as a candidate for the future chairman of Sainsbury because he did not have enough experience chairing companies, the Times reported. Instead, the struggling supermarket group chose Sir Ian Prosser as its deputy chairman with a view to promoting him to chairman. Sainsbury had to reverse Prosser's appointment following an outcry from shareholders. The supermarket group is now looking for a new candidate.

The decision not to consider Gent for the Sainsbury job follows his rejection as a possible chairman for ITV. Gent was told by headhunters late last year that he was not on the short list. ITV executive consider Gent, who is an active supporter of the Conservative party, too political. The television group is in the final stages of selecting a new chairman.

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