Former BBC COO Joins Digital UK

LONDON: Former BBC COO Caroline Thomson, whose name had been tossed around as a potential frontrunner to fill the director-general post, has been appointed the new chair of Digital UK.

Thomson takes up the post as of January 1, 2013, replacing Barry Cox, who is retiring after seven years in the role. Thomson represented the BBC on the Digital UK board from 2006 to 2012. The appointment officially takes Thomson out of the running for the director-general role at the BBC, vacated by George Entwistle.

Also in January, Digital UK is merging with DMOL, the company that runs the Freeview on-screen TV guide. The combined operation will be operated under the Digital UK banner. It will provide day-to-day technical management of the Freeview EPG, as well as manage the launch of new channels onto the platform and allocate channel numbers.

David Scott, the chief executive of Digital UK, said: "Caroline has been a huge supporter of Digital UK since the company was founded, so I am delighted she has now agreed to be our chair as we take on new challenges. I would also like to thank Barry Cox for the vital role he played in helping steward us through the successful delivery of television switchover."

Thomson commented: "Barry Cox has been a brilliant chairman and I am honored to have been asked to succeed him. Digital UK’s talented team has a strong track record of delivering results and with switchover complete, working with the new board we can now address the strategic challenges of ensuring the free to air platform is well managed and that viewers are well served."