Rupert Murdoch hands Fox CEO job to son James

[NEW YORK] Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox said on Tuesday its board approved a shakeup that puts the 84-year-old tycoon's son James in the chief executive job effective from July 1.

The board of the media-entertainment conglomerate approved the plan in which the Australian-born magnate would step out of his CEO role and become co-executive chairman with his other son Lachlan, a company statement said.

The succession plan, which was leaked last week by sources close to the company, allows Rupert Murdoch to ease out of the day-to-day management of the group, with his sons sharing many of those tasks.

The statement said the company's corporate functions and its global television and film operations "will now jointly report to Lachlan and James Murdoch." "It has always been our priority to ensure stable, long-term leadership for the company and these appointments achieve that goal," Rupert Murdoch said in the statement.

"Lachlan and James are each talented and accomplished executives and together, we, as shareholders and partners, will strive to take our company to new levels of growth and opportunity at a time of dynamic change in our industry."

Lachlan and James Murdoch said in a joint statement: "We are both humbled by the opportunity to lead, with our father and the talented team of executives at 21st Century Fox, this extraordinary company." The statement added that Chase Carey, the deputy chairman, president and chief operating officer, will become the executive vice chairman and serve in that role through June 30, 2016.

AFP