Incoming New York Times CEO Mark Thompson, who previously was director general of the BBC, said in an interview Tuesday that he wasn’t aware of a BBC investigation into sexual abuse allegations against former BBC host Jimmy Savlie until after the investigation was canceled.
“I had no reason to believe that his conduct was a pressing concern,” Thompson told the Times. “Had I known about the nature of the allegations and the credible allegations that these horrific crimes had taken place during his time at the BBC and in the building at the BBC, I of course would have considered them very grave and would have acted very differently.”
“I did not impede or stop the ‘Newsnight’ investigation, nor have I done anything else that could be construed as untoward or unreasonable,” Thompson added in the interview.
Savile, who died last year, is accused of sexually molesting hundreds of young boys and girls.