Mark Thompson to depart from BBC after London Olympics 2012

Mark Thompson has alarmed his senior colleagues about his departure after the end of London Olympics 2012, as BBC's director general. 

Thompson, 54, took over the helm at the BBC in the wake of the resignation of Greg Dyke after criticism of the Corporation in Lord Hutton’s report on the death of the government weapons inspector Dr David Kelly.

The possible replacement for Mark Thompson will see first time a woman appointed to run the BBC.  Caroline Thomson, chief operating officer, and Helen Boaden, head of news, are two of the three best placed internal candidates. Their main rival is the low-key but cerebral George Entwistle, recently appointed head of BBC Vision, the corporation's TV channels.

Thompson, whose total pay last year was more than £670,000, was hired by the BBC from Channel 4 where he was heading as its Chief Executive.