Mr. Thompson, 66, joins the network with more experience running a sprawling news organization than Mr. Licht, a former morning and late-night show producer.
Mr. Thompson started as a trainee at the BBC in 1979 and ascended to the position of director general, the broadcaster’s top position, in 2004.
He joined the Times Company as its chief executive in 2012, and was among a group of executives who revitalized the company financially by greatly expanding its digital subscription business.
When Mr. Thompson took over at the Times Company, a subscriber-only paywall for the paper’s website was still in its infancy.
“I just thought we weren’t doing it well enough,” he said.
Persons:
Licht’s, Amy Entelis, Virginia Moseley, Eric Sherling —, David Leavy, Zaslav, Thompson, Licht, ”
Organizations:
CNN, BBC, Times Company