Fox News has named Suzanne Scott as its new Chief Executive Officer, the company announced on Thursday.
“Suzanne has been instrumental in the success of Fox News and she has now made history as its first female CEO,” said co-chairman of News Corp and 21st Century Fox, Lachlan Murdoch. “Her vision and innovation have helped create some of the most popular and lucrative primetime programs on cable and as we embark on the era of the proposed New Fox, I am confident that Suzanne’s leadership will ensure the dominance of both Fox News and FBN for years to come.”
Scott previously served as president for programming and development and has worked with the channel since its inception in 1996.
The release also announced that Jay Wallace, previously president of news at the channel, had been appointed president of Fox News and executive editor. The channel’s current co-president Jack Abernethy will move to the role of CEO of “the newly expanded FOX Television Stations Group.”
The reshuffling marks what will likely be a tumultuous few years for the channel. On Wednesday, the channel’s parent 21st Century Fox announced that Lachlan Murdoch would take over Fox as chairman and CEO after the company completed a sale of assets to the Walt Disney Company.
The diminished “new” Fox the company is now touting will have purview over Fox News, Fox Business Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox Sports, Fox Television Stations Group, and sports cable networks FS1, FS2. A release from 21st Century Fox also noted that the family patriarch Rupert Murdoch would assume the role of co-chairman.
The media titan’s other son, James Murdoch, was noticeably left off the masthead. The more liberal scion of the Murdoch family is expected to leave the business for his own venture capital fund, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The Evolution of Roger Ailes, From 'The Mike Douglas Show' to Fox News Innovator (Photos)
The television executive has evolved from producing a talk-variety show to running one of the biggest satellite news television channel in the U.S.
Fox News
Born and raised in Ohio, Roger Ailes attended Ohio University as a young man, majoring in radio and television. During his time there, he served as station manager for the university's WOUB radio for two years.
Ohio University
Ailes worked his way up to executive producer on the syndicated daytime talk show "The Mike Douglas Show," which began as a local program in Cleveland before expanding nationwide.
Westinghouse Broadcasting Company
In 1968, Ailes got an Emmy nod when "The Mike Douglas Show" was nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Daytime Programming, ultimately losing to NBC's "Today" show.
After first meeting Richard Nixon on the set of "The Mike Douglas Show," Ailes was hired by the then-presidential candidate to be his media advisor during the campaign, which marked his first professional foray into politics.
Ailes continued consulting on presidential campaigns, serving as media consultant for three successful Republicans: Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.
Ailes produced the famous "revolving door" ad for Bush, which painted Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis as soft on crime. The piece was widely regarded as the most influential ad of the political cycle.
In 1988, Ailes co-authored a self-help book with Jon Kraushar. "You Are the Message" shared Ailes' tips for effective communication and public performances.
Simon and Schuster
In 1992, Ailes served as executive producer on a syndicated late-night talk show hosted by right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh, which ran for four years before coming to an end in 1996.
Ailes Productions
Ailes was named president of CNBC in 1993, where he launched the new cable network America's Talking, which was shut down and replaced with future Fox News competitor MSNBC.
America's Talking
Media mogul Rupert Murdoch hired Ailes to serve as founding CEO and Chariman of the Fox News Channel in 1996, which soon grew to become the most popular cable news network in the country.
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In 2016, Ailes was accused of sexual harassment by ousted Fox News host Gretchen Carlson. In July, Carlson filed a lawsuit against Ailes, claiming years of inappropriate behavior and sexual advances.
Getty Images
On July 20, 2016, Ailes was forced to resign from Fox News amid the growing outcry over the sexual harassment allegations.
Getty Images
Ailes died on May 18, 2017 at age 77.
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Roger Ailes, who died Thursday at age 77, began as a producer on a daytime show and went on to become a willy successful cable news network boss
The television executive has evolved from producing a talk-variety show to running one of the biggest satellite news television channel in the U.S.