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

Posted on August 16, 2012

The New York Times Company has announced that BBC director-general Mark Thompson will become its next president and CEO. He will also be appointed to the board. Thompson will report to Arthur Sulzberger, Jr., chairman of the Times Company. Thompson is relocating to New York and is expected to start his new role in November. The Times says Thompson will focus on growing business, digital innovation and expanding the company outside the U.S.

Sulzberger says, "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 service. 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."

Thompson says, "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. 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."

Businessweek says the Times Company is well position to go private should Mark Thompson and the board decide to make that move.