BBC’s Mark Thompson expected to step down in 2012

BBC Director General Mark Thompson is reportedly planning to step down from his post after the 2012 London Olympics. After eight years, the 54-year-old is believed to have decided that he has reached the natural end of his time in the job and is reprotedly looking for a new challenge.

Thompson has been a steady pair of hands for the BBC, guiding the corporation through some tough times as budgetary problems struck. He took over in the wake of the resignations of Greg Dyke as director general and Gavyn Davies as chairman, at a time when the BBC was under serious political pressure.

It’s unclear who might succeed Thompson, but a popular bet is that Caroline Thomson or Helen Boaden could become the first ever female Director General. News of Thompson’s plans to quit are likely to trigger some delicate political manouvering in the next few months.