Mark Thompson to Become President & CEO of The New York Times Company

NEW YORK: Mark Thompson, who had been the director-general of the BBC since May 2004, is headed to The New York Times Company as its new president and CEO.

Thompson is relocating to New York to start his role in November. He had been responsible for the BBC’s services across TV, radio and online for nearly eight years. He took on the role of chairman of BBC Worldwide in March 2012. He announced his resignation from the company in that same month. George Entwistle takes over the director-general post as of September 17. Thompson joined the BBC in 1979.

“Mark is a gifted executive with strong credentials whose leadership at the BBC helped it to extend its trusted brand identity into new digital products and services,” said Arthur Sulzberger, the chairman of the Times Company. “Our board concluded that Mark’s experience and his accomplishments at the BBC made him the ideal candidate to lead the Times Company at this moment in time when we are highly focused on growing our business through digital and global expansion.”

“The New York Times is one of the world’s greatest news providers and a media brand of immense future potential both in the U.S. and around the world. It is a real privilege to be asked to join the Times Company as it embarks on the next chapter in its history,” commented Thompson. “I’m particularly excited to be coming to The New York Times Company as it extends its influence digitally and globally. I look forward to working with the board, Arthur and his highly talented management team to build on the success that has already been achieved and to explore new ways of bringing journalism of exceptional quality, integrity and depth to readers and users everywhere.”