Indian-born Bharucha is acting chief of BBC

Dr Chitra Bharucha, an Indian-born haematologist (a specialist in diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs), today took charge as the acting chairperson of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) - becoming the first woman and first Asian to head the giant organisation.

The BBC Trust, of which Bharucha is the acting chairperson, took over the responsibility of running the organisation from the BBC Board of Governors from today.

The BBC chairman's post fell vacant following the resignation of Michael Grade after he decided to join a rival organisation ITV.

Born in Madurai, Bharucha has lived in Britain since 1972. She has served as deputy director, Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service, and consultant clinical haematologist with Belfast City Hospital.

She shifted from a career in medicine to media in 1996 when she joined the BBC Broadcasting Council for Northern Ireland, a position she held till 2003.