BBC Chief Reportedly Eyes Year-End Exit

LONDON: Mark Thompson, the director general of the BBC, is said to be planning to step down at the end of this year or early next, after eight years at the helm of the British public broadcaster.

The speculation in the U.K. press comes a few days after BBC Trust’s chairman, Lord Patten, said in a newspaper interview that a headhunting firm has been appointed to begin the search for Thompson’s successor. A BBC statement stressed that the move is "sensible succession planning and does not signal an immediate vacancy."

Nonetheless, the Guardian reports that Thompson is looking to step down after his eight-year tenure, taking him through till the end of what is a significant year for the BBC, with the London Olympic Games and Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee taking place this summer.

The British press has already begun speculating about possible contenders, including BBC COO Caroline Thomson, ITV’s Peter Fincham, Channel 4’s David Abraham, ex-Channel 4 head Michael Jackson and Sky’s Sophie Turner Laing. Candidates could, however, be deterred by the fact that Lord Patten has said he wants to reduce the director-general’s salary, which is currently £671,000.