British Council trustee named as BBC Director General

22 November 2012

Tony Hall, member of the British Council's Board of Trustees, has been appointed to the post of BBC Director General.

Sir Vernon Ellis, Chair of the British Council, said:

“Tony Hall is a superb choice for the BBC’s new Director General.  I’ve worked closely with Tony for many years, firstly at English National Opera and more recently at the British Council. He’s been passionate about our work to connect people internationally through culture and education – and he’ll bring that same passion to the BBC.  He’s good in a crisis and a perfect fit for one of Britain’s great institutions, the BBC.”

Lord Hall's achievements during his time with the British Council include:

• Championing the power of the arts in international relations
• Playing a major role in UK Now – the British Council-led biggest ever celebration of UK culture in China
• Helping to develop the British Council’s approach to internationalising the UK’s Higher Education – a major export earner and competitive advantage for the country

For more information, please contact Mark Moulding in the British Council Press Office on +44 (0)207 389 4889 or mark.moulding@britishcouncil.org