BBC's Mark Thompson to head New York Times from November

Mark Thompson, current BBC director-general, has been appointed the new president and chief executive of the New York Times.

The position was made vacant in December when previous chief Janet Robertson quit. Thompson will shift base to New York and will begin his role in November.

“The New York Times is one of the world’s greatest news providers and a media brand of immense future potential both in the US and around the world,” said Thompson in a statement.

“It is a real privilege to be asked to join the Times Company as it embarks on the next chapter in its history.”

Thompson became BBC’s director general in 2004 and oversaw the corporation’s TV, radio and online services. He announced in March that he will step down from the post after the Games.

He will be succeeded by George Entwistle, current director of BBC Vision, the corporation’s multimedia broadcast and production group.

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