Former BBC boss takes over at New York Times
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New York - Mark Thompson, former BBC director general, began his new job Monday as chief executive of The New York Times Company despite a growing scandal about the cover-up of a sexual abuse scandal under his watch as head of the British broadcaster.
The New York Times appointed Thompson in August, citing his role in leading the BBC's international expansion and successful digital initiatives.
Since then, the BBC became engulfed in scandal over former star presenter Jimmy Savile, who was accused of numerous child sex abuse allegations, amid indications that his bosses may have tried to cover his tracks.
The government-run media organisation was hit with another scandal last week when Thompson's replacement resigned in response to reports that the BBC had falsely accused a politician of child sex abuse.
While Thompson had no role in the most recent scandal, his possible involvement in the Saville outrage has raised questions about his suitability to lead The New York Times, with a senior writer at the paper accusing him of being "willfully ignorant" over the scandal.
"Thompson winds up appearing wilfully ignorant, and it makes you wonder what kind of an organisation the BBC was when Thompson was running it - and what kind of leader he was," columnist Joe Nocera wrote. "It also makes you wonder what kind of chief executive he'd beat the Times." Times chairman Arthur Sulzberger welcomed Thompson to the job Monday in a staff memo that did not address the scandals.
"We welcome him at a time of tremendous change and challenge, which must be met with equal focus and innovation," Sulzberger said in the memo.//DPA
