Sir Chris told the Sunday Times that his experience in handling difficult mergers makes him an ideal candidate. While at Vodafone he was behind the mobile firm's £100bn acquisition of German firm Mannesmann.
"It's something where I would have been able to make a contribution. I have some experience of making mergers work, which did not necessarily start from a promising position," he told the paper.
Sir Chris, who spent 18 years at Vodafone turning it into global giant, would likely be a popular City choice for the job as investors cast around for a strong business leader to take up the helm of the £5bn single ITV company.
One candidate who was thought to be in with a good chance of the chairman's job is the former investment banker John Nelson but he withdrew his candidacy for the job.
Whoever takes the job will have to answer to investors who have played a very active role in helping to shape the future of ITV. Led by Fidelity's Anthony Bolton they have already cast aside Carlton chairman Michael Green, who was ousted at the end of last year in a dramatic coup.
It was reported last week that shareholders might move against ITV chief executive Charles Allen. Bolton is reported to have been consulting with City advisers about Allen's performance.
Shareholders want the new chairman to review the role of Allen, whom they do not believe has cut enough costs.
If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the .
_1.jpg)
.jpg)
