Ian Jacob

Lt-Gen. Sir Edward Ian Claud Jacob (1899-1993) was Director-General from 1952 to 1959.

Jacob was a professional soldier, serving as Military Assistant Secretary to the British War Cabinet. In 1946 the BBC asked him to run the European Service. He went on to manage all Overseas Services, then took a sabbatical at the Ministry of Defence in 1951.

In 1952 he returned as Director-General. Jacob liked corporate planning and led the BBC without interfering much with programmes. His ten year plan included regional television and the second channel.

Jacob promoted the BBC as the national broadcaster when ITV began and audiences dropped. Staff liked him. He left the BBC on 31st December 1959, having groomed Hugh Carleton Greene as his successor.