Seen & Heard: INM review clears Leslie Buckley in Newstalk row

Review had been triggered by clash between Pitt and Buckley over Newstalk valuation

Independent News & Media chairman Leslie Buckley: an external review was apparently delivered to the board of INM in the past two or three weeks. Photograph: Alan Betson

INM review clears Buckley in relation to Newstalk row

According to a report in the Sunday Times, an external review of corporate governance issues at Independent News & Media (INM) is understood to have cleared chairman and Denis O'Brien's right-hand man Leslie Buckley of any inappropriate behaviour in relation to the potential acquisition of Newstalk, a national radio station controlled by Mr O'Brien.

The review was apparently delivered to the board of INM in the past two or three weeks. The review had been prompted by a very public clash between chief executive Robert Pitt and Mr Buckley over how much might be paid in any bid for Newstalk.

A subcommittee of the board investigating Pitt's concern over the valuation found Buckley had no case to answer. Pitt subsequently made a protected disclosure under the whistle blower legislation. The review was conducted by senior counsel David Barniville and Stephen Kingon, a senior independent governance expert and former managing partner of accountancy firm PwC.

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