London's 'Times' Names New Editor

By: (AP) Robert Thomson, the Financial Times' managing editor in the United States, will become the new editor of London's Times newspaper, officials announced Wednesday.

Thomson, 40, who was born in Australia, will replace Peter Stothard, who resigned earlier this month. He assumes the new title on March 6.

The appointment was announced by The Times after the national directors of Times Newspapers Holdings Ltd. approved it Wednesday.

"I am proud and delighted to be joining The Times," Thomson said. "It has been an honor working with the staff of the Financial Times. It is time for a new challenge, and I can think of none greater than leading The Times and working with its journalists."

Rupert Murdoch, chairman and chief executive of News Corp., which owns The Times, said: "Robert is the ideal candidate to follow Peter's brilliant editorship. He will join The Times with an outstanding international reputation, and I am sure will lead the newspaper with great distinction."

Thomson began his career as a journalist in 1979 at the Herald in Melbourne. After a job at the Sydney Morning Herald, he joined Pearson's Financial Times, working in Beijing and Tokyo before moving to the United States.

On Feb. 21, Stothard, 50, announced he was stepping down after 10 years as the editor of the Times. No reason was given for his departure, but a battle with cancer had forced him to take a temporary leave in March 2000.