Caroline Thomson

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For the American writer and film-maker, see Caroline Thompson.

The Right Honourable
The Lady Liddle
Born
Caroline Agnes Morgan Thomson

(1954-05-15) 15 May 1954 (age 69)
Alma materUniversity of York
EmployerEnglish National Ballet
Known forChair of Oxfam
TermOctober 2017 – October 2020
SuccessorCharles Gurassa
SpouseRoger Liddle, Baron Liddle
ParentGeorge Thomson, Baron Thomson of Monifieth (father)

Caroline Agnes Morgan Thomson, Baroness Liddle (born 15 May 1954)[1] was chair of the charity Oxfam[2] until October 2020. She is a former BBC executive and was the Corporation's chief operating officer, from 2006 to 2012[3] and she stood in for Mark Thompson, the former director general, when necessary.[4]

Early life and career[edit]

Thomson is the elder daughter of Labour peer George Thomson, Baron Thomson of Monifieth.[5] She was educated at Mary Datchelor Girls' School in Camberwell, a grammar school,[6] and graduated from York University, where she studied history and economics.[7]

She first joined the BBC as a journalist trainee in 1975, ultimately becoming a producer on Analysis (Radio 4) and later Panorama (BBC1) before becoming personal assistant to SDP leader Roy Jenkins in 1982. She spent over a decade at Channel 4 from 1984, initially as a commissioning editor, later as Head of Corporate Affairs from 1990, before rejoining the BBC in 1996 as Deputy Director of the World Service.[8] She became the Corporation's Director of Policy and Legal Affairs in July 2000, a job description later expanded to include Strategy, before being promoted to chief operating officer in 2006. In 2011 she was paid £385,000 by the organisation.[9] The Commons Public Accounts Committee suggested that her £670,000 redundancy pay-off was effectively paid to "compensate" her for missing out on the job of director-general.[10]

In October 2013 she became Executive Director of the English National Ballet.[11][12]

Since November 2012, she has been Chair of Digital UK.[13] She is also chair of Tomorrow's People Trust's Ambassadors group and Trustee to a number of charities including the National Gallery.[14]

Personal life[edit]

Caroline Thomson is married to the Labour peer Roger Liddle, an advisor to Tony Blair while Blair was Prime Minister.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Miss Caroline Thomson", Debrett's
  2. ^ "Oxfam's CEO, Directors and Trustees - Oxfam GB". Oxfam GB.
  3. ^ "Caroline Thomson to leave the BBC", BBC Media Centre, 18 September 2012
  4. ^ "Biographies – Caroline Thomson – Chief Operating Officer, BBC Press Office
  5. ^ William Rodgers, 'Thomson, George Morgan, Baron Thomson of Monifieth (1921–2008)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Jan 2012; online edn, May 2012 accessed 15 June 2012
  6. ^ "Corrections and clarifications", The Guardian, 30 March 2012
  7. ^ "Interview with Caroline Thomson", University of York website, 19 July 2011
  8. ^ Sabbagh, Dan (25 March 2012). "Caroline Thomson – engine room strategist ready to take BBC helm". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  9. ^ "BBC executive: 'swearing in TV comedies is acceptable'". The Daily Telegraph. London. 1 December 2011.
  10. ^ Christopher Hope "BBC gave inflated pay-offs to top staff, NAO says", telegraph.co.uk, 1 July 2013
  11. ^ "Staff | English National Ballet". www.ballet.org.uk. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  12. ^ "Press Release: Caroline Thomson Appointed Executive Director of English National Ballet - Ballet / Dance news & information". 2 October 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  13. ^ Sabbagh, Dan (14 November 2012). "Caroline Thomson rules herself out of BBC Director General race". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  14. ^ "BBC Declaration of Personal Interests" (PDF). Retrieved 23 April 2012.
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