Tony Hall - Lord Hall of Birkenhead - was appointed Director-General of the BBC on 22 November 2012 and took up his post in April 2013. He is the 16th Director-General of the BBC. Prior to this, Tony was Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House from 2001-2013; and Director of News and Current Affairs at the BBC from 1993-2001. He was Deputy Chairman of Channel 4 between February 2012 and November 2012.

In 2009 he was asked by the Government and the Mayor of London to set up and chair the Cultural Olympiad Board and also joined the board of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games.

He is currently a Trustee of the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, a member of the board of the Creative Industries Federation, a member of the Go On UK board, and a member of the 14-18 Now board.

He was awarded a CBE in 2006 and was made a life peer in 2010. He sits on the crossbenches in the House of Lords.