Mark Thompson to leave BBC after Olympics Mark Thompson will step down as BBC director-general after this summer's London Olympics. The 54-year-old has headed the public broadcaster since 2004, making him the BBC's longest-serving director-general since Sir Charles Curran in the 1970s. Rumours of Mr Thompson's departure had been circulating for several months, with the BBC in January hiring headhunters Egon Zehnder to identify the remit of the expanding director-general role to be filled by Mr Thompson's successor. "When Chris Patten became BBC Trust chairman last year, I told him I thought there was a strong case for handing over to a successor sooner rather than later," Mr Thompson said. From the point of view of the BBC, I thought that my successor should have time to really get their feet under the table before the next charter review process got going. [Lord Patten] and the Trust should begin the public process of finding the next director-general as soon as they see fit. I will of course help them in that endeavour in any way I can. The departure of Mr Thompson could pave the way for the BBC to appoint its first female director-general. Helen Boaden, head of news, and Caroline Thomson, chief operating officer, are among the three top internal candidates to fill the post. The other leading internal candidate for the role is George Entwistle, head of BBC Vision, while David Abraham, Channel Four chief executive, has also been linked with the role. Mr Thompson's reign has been marked by budget cuts, three separate rounds of staff cuts accounting for almost 6,000 jobs out of an original 24,000, and the £1bn-plus revamp of Broadcasting House, the BBC's headquarters in central London. Lord Patten said: "Mark Thompson has been an outstanding director-general of the BBC. He took over during a traumatic period in the corporation's history and subsequently enhanced its reputation for creativity and quality, while setting the course for the BBC's digital future. The Trust will shortly begin the process of recruiting a successor. Mr Thompson's successor will also oversee BBC Worldwide following his appointment as chairman of the broadcaster's corporate arm, whose importance as a commercial conduit has been enhanced by budget cuts and the licence fee freeze.