​Television executive Michael Grade will appoint the board and staff for the UK's tough new fundraising regulatory body

Michael Grade, the former head of Channel 4, is to lead the UK’s new charity fundraising regulation body.

The UK government has announced that Grade is the interim chair of the new fundraising regulator which is set to replace the Fundraising Standards Board.

Grade will be responsible for overseeing the setup of the new fundraising body, which the government hopes will restore public trust and confidence in charity fundraising.

The people of Britain are amongst the most charitable on earth [but] their continuing generosity depends on their trust in the charities who fundraise

The creation of a new regulatory body was recommended in a review of fundraising practise carried out by National Council for Voluntary Organisations’ chief executive Sir Stuart Etherington.

It followed a summer of negative media coverage that highlighted a series of poor fundraising practises. Examples included bombarding 89-year-old Olive Cooke with direct mail and telephone calls requesting more and more charitable donations.

Grade will work quickly to appoint a board and chief executive, and start working with charities to build the tough new self-regulatory system.

The television executive has been active in a number of charitable organisations, including the Science Museum, Band Aid, and the Samaritans.

His wealth of experience leading large organisations is also being considered an asset to the role.

Grade said: “The people of Britain are amongst the most charitable on earth. Their continuing generosity depends on their trust in the charities who fundraise, which is why I intend to work with charities to ensure that this trust is not abused.”

Announcing the appointment, minister for civil society Rob Wilson said: “The new chair has a vital role in restoring public trust in the charity sector. I welcome Lord Grade into this role as someone with the stature and experience to set up the new regulator and bring people together to deliver the necessary reform.

“I have every confidence and expectation that all the recommendations laid out in Sir Stuart Etherington’s review of fundraising will be implemented in full.”

Grade will be paid £500 a day and is expected to work four days per month over an initial one-year period.

Large charities will be forced to sign up to the new regulator, which will also insist they get explicit consent of all donors, past and present, before any data can be shared.

Under the new system, anyone who is inundated with fundraising marketing material from charities will be able to press “reset” and stop receiving this material.

If large charities fail to appropriately safeguard their supporters, the new laws will also give the government the power to intervene and regulate fundraising.