BBC topper may leave in the coming year

LONDON -- The BBC's director general Mark Thompson is anticipated to depart in the finish of the season or early 2013 in the latest. Authoritative sources claim that Thompson has told buddies that he's "psychologically ready" to exit. On Monday, BBC chairman Chris Patten introduced that headhunters have been hired to locate a successor to Thompson, who had been hired in 2004 (Daily Variety, Jan. 24). In the Oxford Media Conference on Wednesday, Patten spoke openly about his approach to finding the BBC's next director general. He described he and Thompson had agreed before Christmas to appoint headhunters while he wanted the transition between Thompson and whomever is chosen to consider to be as smooth as you possibly can. He'll leave the BBC in good condition following upheaval because he oversaw a hefty cost saving program resulting in losing some 2,000 jobs. Speculation over his successor has already been intense. Many think that Patten may wish to bolster his legacy by recruiting the very first female director general. The key femme challengers would be the BBC's chief operating office Caroline Thomson and mind of news Helen Boaden. Sophie Turner Laing, the BSkyB topper who accustomed to run BBC purchases, may also be spoken of just as one contender which are more important job in British media. However the favorite to achieve success Thompson is BBC mind of vision George Entwistle. Entwistle's supporters say he's the type of proper capabilities required to redefine the pubcaster's role inside a quickly converging digital landscape. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com