ABC’s Mark Scott could be new BBC boss

Mark Scott, Managing Director of the ABC, is believed to be one of the candidates to become the new director-general of the BBC.

The chairman of the BBC Trust, Chris Patten, wants to make direct approaches to candidates rather than go through the usual process of formal competition. He wants the new director-general in the job within weeks to restore public confidence in the broadcaster as soon as possible.

Lord Patten and his 11 trustees will meet today to determine if a direct approach is the way to go to replace George Entwistle, who resigned on Saturday after Newsnight broadcast a false allegation that a senior Conservative was a pedophile.

Other possible external candidates include Tony Hall, chief executive of the Royal Opera House; Ed Richards, head of the communications watchdog Ofcom; and Lionel Barber, editor of the Financial Times.

Read more in The Australian here