Rupert Murdoch Promotes Sons; Peter Rice Re-Ups With Fox Networks Group

James Murdoch rises despite scandal

Rupert Murdoch Lachlan Murdoch James Murdoch
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Fox Networks Group CEO Peter Rice has extended his contract with the company, and Rupert Murdoch has also promoted his sons.

21st Century Fox announced Wednesday that James Murdoch has been named Co-Chief Operating Officer of the company, while Lachlan Murdoch will serve as Non-Executive Co-Chairman of both that company and News Corp. The announcement of the Board of Directors was made by Rupert Murdoch and Fox President and COO  Chase Carey.

The good news for James Murdoch comes despite being forced to resign from his role as chairman of BSkyB, as well as his role as head of News Group Newspapers, because of the latter company’s phone hacking scandal.

In fact, the news release from the company entirely ignores his newspaper tenure and his resignations.

James will serve alongside Carey, who said in a statement: “Over the course of his 17 years with the company, James has played a key leadership role in almost all of our major television businesses, from Mumbai to Munich to London and most recently the U.S.”

Also read: Three Ex-Murdoch Journalists Plead Guilty to Phone Hacking

Carey also pointed out that, “James has been a great partner and in many ways this appointment formalizes the role he’s been playing for some time, and acknowledges the contribution he has made in driving our businesses to new heights.”

In his new role, he will “have direct responsibility for Fox Networks Group” as well as its pay TV operations in Europe and Asia.

Also read: Rupert Murdoch Re-Elected Twenty-First Century Fox Chairman

Lachlan Murdoch, meanwhile, already serves as a Director of 21st Century Fox and News Corp, and formerly had served as Deputy Chief Operating Officer of News Corporation, Chairman of Fox Television Stations and Publisher of the New York Post, among other things.

“News Corp today has the energy and sensibility of a start-up and is at the cutting edge of change in the media, publishing and education industries, and much more,” he said in a statement.

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