BBC Director General Greg Dyke’s departure came 20 hours after BBC Chairman Gavyn Davies resigned in the wake of Lord Huttons damning verdict.
Both quit after parts of Andrew Gilligan’s BBC reports of claims Downing Street “sexed up” a dossier on Iraq’s illegal weapons were branded “unfounded” by Lord Hutton.
Leaving after four years in his post, Mr Dyke said his position had been compromised by Lord Hutton’s criticisms of BBC management.
Mr Dyke’s deputy, Mark Byford, has been appointed as acting director general until a successor is chosen.
The departure of both the BBC chairman and director general comes amid growing calls for the BBC to come under outside regulation. Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said the Hutton report would be taken into account in the 2006 review of the BBC’s charter.