George Entwistle appointed new BBC Director-General

The BBC executive will take over one of the most powerful jobs in UK broadcasting from Mark Thompson on a salary of £450,000 in the autumn.

Entwistle had been director of BBC Vision since last year.

Speculation had been mounting that a decision would be reached swiftly after a final round of interviews yesterday, conducted by Lord Patten, the chairman of the BBC Trust.

Mr Entwistle posed with Lord Patten for photographers outside the BBC’s new Broadcasting House complex in central London.

He said: “I’m very pleased that the chairman and the trustees think I’m the right person for the job.

“Mark Thompson will be a tough act to follow but it’s a privilege to be asked to lead the greatest broadcasting organisation in the world and it’s a privilege to be given the chance to continue to serve in this job.”

Lord Patten said Mr Entwistle was “a great creative leader” in the corporation.

Lord Patten said: “George is a creative leader for a creative organisation.

“His experience of making and delivering great programmes that audiences love - built up through many years of working for the Corporation - will prove invaluable as he and his team work to ensure the BBC remains the greatest broadcaster in the world.”

The pay for the role has been hugely reduced by more than £200,000. Mr Thompson - who has held the role since 2004 - is currently paid £671,000, giving an indication of the general belt-tightening for BBC executives.

Among those interviewed for the role are understood to be Ed Richards, the chief executive of Ofcom who was seen as a frontrunner, and the BBC’s chief operating officer, Caroline Thomson.

Mr Thompson indicated in March that he was stepping down following the Olympics. Headhunting firm Egon Zehnder led the process to find his successor.