Directors-General
The life and times of the leaders of the BBC
Image: The Director-General's office at Broadcasting House in 1936.
The Director-General is the Chief Executive Officer of the BBC, and its Editor-in-Chief.
The BBC's first Director-General John Reith set the tone for the Corporation, and these 'Reithian values', such as "Inform, Educate and Entertain" remain a cornerstone of the BBC's remit. Since Reith, a further sixteen individuals have held the position, shaping the direction and policies of the BBC.
Directors-General
John Reith
First Director-General, 1922-1938
FW Ogilvie
Second Director-General 1938-1942
Cecil Graves
Joint Director-General 1942-1943
RW Foot
Joint Director-General 1942-1943, Fourth Director-General 1943-1944
William Haley
Fifth Director-General 1944-1952
Ian Jacob
Sixth Director-General 1952-1959
Hugh Carleton-Greene
Seventh Director-General 1960-1969
Charles Curran
Eighth Director-General 1969-1977
Ian Trethowan
Ninth Director-General 1977-1982
Alasdair Milne
Tenth Director-General 1982-1987
Michael Checkland
Eleventh Director-General 1987-1992
John Birt
Twelfth Director-General 1992-2000
Greg Dyke
Thirteenth Director-General 2000-2004
Mark Thompson
Fourteenth Director-General 2004-2012
George Entwistle
Fifteenth Director-General 2012
Tony Hall
Sixteenth Director-General 2013-2020
Tim Davie
Seventeenth Director-General 2020-2026
Matt Brittin
Eighteenth Director-General 2026-
