William Haley

Sir William John Haley KCMG (1901-1987) was Director-General between 1944 and 1952.

He was a journalist and ex-editor of the Manchester Evening News. He joined the BBC in 1943 and became Director-General in 1944.

He established the BBC's role after the war including the new Home, Light and Third Programmes. Haley was especially proud of the Third Programme and was less interested in television. He defended the BBC against competition in his evidence to the Beveridge Committee. He went on to edit The Times and Encyclopaedia Britannica before retiring to his native Jersey.

He was widely respected and, uniquely, esteemed by Lord Reith.