Former BBC deputy director general and ex-chief executive of Guardian Media Group Sir Bob Phillis has died at the age of 64.
He passed away today after a long battle with cancer.
During his time in charge of the Guardian Media Group, Bob took the company into radio industry, which now owns and operated 11 regional radio stations and two locals.
He hired John Myers to launch and set up the radio division. He tells RadioToday.co.uk: "He was one of the best. If not the best of the best. GMG radio would not have been born without Bobs wisdom and passion for radio. He was an amazing man".
Mark Thompson, BBC Director-General, said: "Bob Phillis made an enormous contribution to British media, in particular at the Guardian Media Group, commercial television and at the BBC.
"He will be remembered as an inspirational leader but also as a warm-hearted, loyal, friend and colleague. We will miss him enormously."
Phillis's successor as chief executive, Carolyn McCall, told the Guardian: "Bob was a wonderful human being, incredibly kind and with a real joy of life. He lived his life to the full, he was always good company, and he had huge generosity of spirit.
Phillis joined GMG from the BBC, where he had spent four years as John Birt's deputy, running the commercial arm BBC Enterprises.
