From The GuardianThompson named BBC director general
Owen Gibson, chief reporter
Friday May 21, 2004 Channel 4 chief executive Mark Thompson was today confirmed as the new director general of the BBC.
Newly arrived chairman Michael Grade met today with governors to decide on the accession of the 46-year-old Channel 4 chief executive to the job he has long coveted.
It is believed the decision came down to a straight choice between Mr Thompson and acting director general Mark Byford, who was also interviewed earlier today, with the former BBC director of television getting the nod because of his reputation as a strategic long-term thinker.
Mr Grade, who only took up his position as chairman on Monday, was determined to act quickly to install a permanent director general to press ahead with the BBC's arguments in favour of the renewal of its royal charter on favourable terms.
Mr Thompson returns to the corporation at a crucial time in its history with the new management team hoping to draw a line under the post-Hutton period of crisis that claimed the jobs of their predecessors, Gavyn Davies and Greg Dyke.
Just over two years after leaving the corporation to join Channel 4, he has returned far quicker than even he thought possible following the sudden departure of Mr Dyke.
It is understood that up until yesterday Mr Thompson was still undecided as to whether to attend today's interview, believing his job at Channel 4, which is also facing key questions about its future, was only half done.
The new director general is regarded as a consummate player of the internal BBC political game, becoming a favourite of first John Birt and then Mr Dyke.
He rose swiftly, starting out in news and current affairs, becoming Panorama editor and BBC2 controller and later director of television and effectively the former director general's right-hand man.
Mr Thompson last month insisted he say no to the job, telling reporters he would turn down "any approach" from the BBC.
And recently appointed Channel 4 chairman Luke Johnston, a newcomer to the broadcasting industry, has been open about his desire to keep his chief executive, offering him a golden handcuffs deal. The unusually speedy decision on the appointment was also influenced by the fact that Mr Thompson was due to fly out to Los Angeles tomorrow to look at new American programming for Channel 4.
The broadcaster and Mr Johnston are now in the invidious position of having to find a new leader for the second time in three years.
Sky Networks chief Dawn Airey, who some believe has been frustrated in her ambitions since joining the pay-TV group from Channel Five, will immediately be installed as one of the favourites for the Channel 4 job.
The news will also spark speculation over the future of Mr Byford, who was thrust into the difficult job of leading the BBC on an interim basis in the wake of Lord Hutton's damning verdict.
Yet he has not endeared himself to staff after continuing with a divisive post-Hutton internal disciplinary review originally ordered by Mr Dyke.
From The Guardian