NEW YORK – New York Times Co. CEO Mark Thompson is starting his job on Monday amid a widening scandal at his former employer, the BBC.
When the Times hired him in August, Thompson was hailed as someone who could help the company generate new revenue at a time when print publications are suffering from the loss of readers and advertisers.
In recent months, he has faced questions over a decision by the BBC's "Newsnight" program last December to shelve an investigation into child sexual-abuse allegations against renowned British television host Jimmy Savile, who died last year. That decision was made while Thompson was head of the BBC.
Thompson's successor as the BBC's top executive, George Entwistle, resigned on Saturday after its news magazine wrongly implied that a former British politician sexually abused a child.
After the Savile scandal broke, Times Chairman Arthur Sulzberger Jr. sent the company's staff a letter that said he was satisfied Thompson had no role in the decision to scrap the investigative segment on Savile.
In a memo to staff on Monday, Sulzberger welcomed Thomson and said his experience "will be of great value to our company." He did not mention the BBC scandal.
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