Mark Thompson

Mark Thompson is a media executive, journalist, and author who has led some of the world’s leading news organizations. In 2023, he was appointed Chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide. Previously, Mr. Thompson served as President and CEO of The New York Times Company, from 2012 to 2020, where he led the transformation of the 170-year-old news brand into a digital powerhouse. Digital subscribers jumped to nearly six million, up from half a million when he joined, while digital revenues topped $450 million at the end of 2019.

Prior to the Times, Mr. Thompson served as Director-General of the BBC, from 2004 to 2012, where he is widely credited with expanding the BBC’s digital reach and overseeing development of the BBC iPlayer. He joined the BBC from Channel 4 where he was Chief Executive from 2002 to 2004. Before Channel 4 he held a series of senior posts at the BBC including Director of Television. His BBC career began as production trainee. He went on to edit several news programmes including The Nine O’clock News and Panorama before becoming Controller of BBC Two.

Mr. Thompson is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ancestry.com and a Trustee of the Royal Shakespeare Company. His book, Enough Said: What's Gone Wrong with the Language of Politics?, was published in September 2016.