Another new boss named at the BBC

Mark Thompson, chief executive of Britain’s Channel 4 television, has been appointed director-general of the British Broadcasting Corp., the BBC announced Friday.

Thompson, 46, replaces Greg Dyke, who quit earlier this year when the BBC was heavily criticized after a row between the broadcaster and authorities over a report accusing the government of hyping the case for war in Iraq.

The appointment was the first by BBC Chairman Michael Grade, who only took his job Monday, filling the vacancy left by the resignation of Gavyn Davies.

Oxford-educated, Thompson had been with Channel 4 since December 2001. Prior to that he had spent more than 20 years with the BBC, rising to become director of television 20 months before moving to Channel 4. He was also a member of the BBC’s executive committee.