News Corporation has promoted top executives David Hill, the former chairman and CEO of Fox Sports, and Peter Rice, Fox Networks Group's chairman of entertainment, the company announced Monday.
Hill was named senior executive vice president of the corporation after more than a decade running Fox Sports. Rice, who served as entertainment chairman at Fox Networks Group since 2010, has been named chairman and CEO of the division.
Hill, now in a company-wide role, will focus on programming and digital products across the company's holdings in Latin America, Asia, Australia, Europe and the United States.
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Rice will now also oversee sports, one of the most lucrative sections of the company, along with programming and operations for Fox Broadcasting Company, FX, Fox International Channels and the National Geographic Channel.
"The contributions that Peter has made to News Corporation over the years are immeasurable," News Corp. president and COO Chase Carey said in a statement. "Peter has proven himself at both the Fox Entertainment Networks, and Fox Searchlight before, to be one of the most innovative and strategic leaders in the entertainment industry."
The executive shake-up comes ahead of News Corp.'s plan to divide the company in two, separating its publishing and newspaper division from its cash-cow entertainment arm.