Mark Thompson

Mark Thompson was educated at the prestigious Stonyhurst College, a Catholic boarding and day school, and after graduating in English from Merton College, Oxford University, he joined the BBC in 1979 as a production trainee. Over the following years he would work behind the scenes on such series as Breakfast Time (1983), Watchdog (1985) and Newsnight (1980). In 1988 he was made Editor of the Nine O'Clock News (1970) and two years later, Editor of Panorama (1953). Further promotions came in the following years, including his appointment as Head of Features in 1992 and Head of Factual Programmes in 1994. In 1996 he was made Controller of BBC Two, a position he held for two years. In 1999 he was made Director of National and Regional Broadcasting and in 2000 he became Director of Television. After many years at the BBC, Mark moved to Channel Four, where was made Chief Executive in December 2001. He remained in this job until 2004, when he returned to the BBC to become Director-General. Mark was chosen for this important role because, according to the Board of Governors, his "unquestionable public service credentials and commitment to the BBC's editorial mission" made him the ideal person to restore the credibility of the corporation, following criticism by the Hutton Inquiry and the consequent resignation of the former Director-General, Greg Dyke.