Caroline Thomson

For the American writer and film-maker, see Caroline Thompson.

The Right Honourable

The Lady Liddle

Born|

Caroline Agnes Morgan Thomson

(1954-05-15) 15 May 1954 (age 71)
Alma mater| University of York
Employer| English National Ballet
Known for| Chair of Oxfam
Term| October 2017 – October 2020
Successor| Charles Gurassa
Spouse| Roger Liddle, Baron Liddle
Parent| George Thomson, Baron Thomson of Monifieth (father)

Caroline Agnes Morgan Thomson, Lady Liddle (born 15 May 1954)[1] was chair of the charity Oxfam[2] until October 2020. She is a former BBC executive and was the Corporation's chief operating officer, from 2006 to 2012[3] and she stood in for Mark Thompson, the former director general, when necessary.[4] Thomson has served as the senior independent director on the BBC Board since April 2025.[5]

## Early life and career

[edit]

Thomson is the elder daughter of Labour peer George Thomson, Baron Thomson of Monifieth.[6] She was educated at Mary Datchelor Girls' School in Camberwell, a grammar school,[7] and graduated from York University, where she studied history and economics.[8]

She first joined the BBC as a journalist trainee in 1975, ultimately becoming a producer on Analysis (Radio 4) and later Panorama (BBC1) before becoming personal assistant to SDP leader Roy Jenkins in 1982. She spent over a decade at Channel 4 from 1984, initially as a commissioning editor, later as Head of Corporate Affairs from 1990, before rejoining the BBC in 1996 as Deputy Director of the World Service.[9] She became the Corporation's Director of Policy and Legal Affairs in July 2000, a job description later expanded to include Strategy, before being promoted to chief operating officer in 2006. In 2011 she was paid £385,000 by the organisation.[10] The Commons Public Accounts Committee suggested that her £670,000 redundancy pay-off was effectively paid to "compensate" her for missing out on the job of director-general.[11]

In October 2013 she became Executive Director of the English National Ballet.[12][13]

Since November 2012, she has been Chair of Digital UK.[14] She is also chair of Tomorrow's People Trust's Ambassadors group and Trustee to a number of charities including the National Gallery.[15]

## Personal life

[edit]

Caroline Thomson is married to the Labour peer Roger Liddle, an advisor to Tony Blair while Blair was Prime Minister.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Miss Caroline Thomson", Debrett's
2. ^ "Oxfam's CEO, Directors and Trustees - Oxfam GB". Oxfam GB.
3. ^ "Caroline Thomson to leave the BBC", BBC Media Centre, 18 September 2012
4. ^ "Biographies – Caroline Thomson – Chief Operating Officer, BBC Press Office
5. ^ "Caroline Thomson". About the BBC. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
6. ^ William Rodgers, 'Thomson, George Morgan, Baron Thomson of Monifieth (1921–2008)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Jan 2012; online edn, May 2012 accessed 15 June 2012
7. ^ "Corrections and clarifications", The Guardian, 30 March 2012
8. ^ "Interview with Caroline Thomson", University of York website, 19 July 2011
9. ^ Sabbagh, Dan (25 March 2012). "Caroline Thomson – engine room strategist ready to take BBC helm". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
10. ^ "BBC executive: 'swearing in TV comedies is acceptable'". The Daily Telegraph. London. 1 December 2011.
11. ^ Christopher Hope "BBC gave inflated pay-offs to top staff, NAO says", telegraph.co.uk, 1 July 2013
12. ^ "Staff | English National Ballet". www.ballet.org.uk. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
13. ^ "Press Release: Caroline Thomson Appointed Executive Director of English National Ballet - Ballet / Dance news & information". 2 October 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
14. ^ Sabbagh, Dan (14 November 2012). "Caroline Thomson rules herself out of BBC Director General race". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
15. ^ "BBC Declaration of Personal Interests" (PDF). Retrieved 23 April 2012.