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• Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani
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• Mark Thompson
• Ian Henderson
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Thursday 10 July 2008 morning ceremony

Mark Thompson
Ian Henderson

Mark Thompson (LLD)

Mark Thompson is Director General of the BBC, and as such is Chief Executive, Editor-in-Chief and chair of its Executive Board. Mark became Director General in June 2004, and has successfully steered the BBC through its ten-yearly Charter Review process, securing Licence Fee funding for the BBC for the next six years.

Mark was a major author behind Building Public Value, the BBC’s strategy manifesto for the digital age, and the Creative Futures project, a far-reaching editorial blueprint for BBC programming and services to meet changing audience expectations. During Mark’s time as Director General, the BBC has launched new platform trials in on-demand programming including the on-line iPlayer and podcasting, as well as mobile and high-definition television.

Before re-joining the BBC, Mark was Chief Executive of Channel 4, a post he had held since December 2001. His earlier BBC career had spanned 20 years including the significant roles, in chronological order, of Editor of BBC-1’s Nine O’Clock News, Editor of BBC-1’s current affairs flagship Panorama, Head of Features, Head of Factual Programmes, Controller of BBC-2, Director of National and Regional Broadcasting and finally Director of Television.

Mark was born in London on 31 July 1957 and was educated at Stonyhurst College, Lancashire and Merton College, Oxford University.

Listen to Mark Thompson’s speech here.

Ian Henderson (LLD)

Ian Henderson was born in London in 1933. He went on to study at Wadham College, Oxford where he read Mathematics.

During his time there, he also pursued his interest and participation in athletics, where he was a member of the second team.

After a spell with the Royal Navy, during which he undertook the majority of his actuarial examinations, Ian joined Norwich Union in 1960.

He then worked for a number of well-known insurance and finance companies until 1986, when he founded the Exeter Investment Group. He held the post of Chief Executive until 1999 when he retired, and remained as a non-executive director until 2004. He served for a number of years as a member of Council of the University of Exeter and was Chair of the Exeter Retirement Benefit Scheme, the pension fund for the non-academic members of the University staff.

Ian maintains various business interests and a variety of investment trusts.

See Ian Henderson collect his Honorary Degree here.