In the wake of chief operating officer Peter Chernin's decision to leave the company in June, News Corp. shook up its management team Thursday, with Fox Networks chairman Tony Vinciquerra getting added responsibility for Fox Broadcasting Network and entertainment chairman Peter Liguori stepping down.
Vinciquerra, who had been chairman of Fox Networks Group, will continue to be oversee the cable networks, but will gain additional responsibility for Fox Broadcasting business and programming and for Fox International Channels.
Also as part of the restructuring, Liguori will step down as chairman of entertainment, Fox Broadcasting, effective immediately. He will be replaced by former Fox Searchlight president Peter Rice, who will report to Vincequerra.
"Peter Liguori has been an outstanding Fox executive, not only in leading FBC for three seasons, but in his groundbreaking programming that helped build FX into a general entertainment leader," News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch said in a statement. "We wish him continued success."
Most observers were expecting changes in News Corp.'s management ranks after Chernin said he would leave the company. At the time, Murdoch said he would assume most of Chernin's duties
On the film side, the Los Angeles-based creative production divisions will be combined under a single unit reporting to Jim Gianopulos and Tom Rothman, co-chairmen of Fox Filmed Entertainment. Twentieth Century Fox Television chairmen Gary Newman and Dana Walden will report to Gianopulos and Rothman. Emiliano Calemzuk, president of Fox Television Studios, will report to Newman and Walden.
With Rice's departure at Fox Searchlight, Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula will jointly run the business, reporting to Gianopulos and Rothman. Claudia Lewis, president of production, remains in place.
"Peter Rice is one of our most talented creative executives, having championed such films as Slumdog Millionaire, Little Miss Sunshine, and Juno during his tenure at Fox Searchlight," Murdoch added. "As we increasingly look to apply unconventional approaches to our traditional businesses, I'm convinced Peter Rice is the right person to transform our broadcast television business."
According to News Corp., Gianopulos, Rothman, and Vinciquerra will report directly to Murdoch as will Fox Interactive Media president Peter Levinsohn. Roger Ailes, chairman and CEO of Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network and chairman of the Fox Television Stations and Twentieth Television, will continue to report to Murdoch.
Click here to read Murdoch's internal memo about the restructuring.
