Rupert Murdoch has lured back a former close lieutenant, Chase Carey, to fill the number two slot at his global News Corporation empire, in an appointment favouring business experience over family blood.
A veteran media executive, Carey yesterday resigned as chief executive of the satellite television firm DirecTV to become deputy chairman, president and chief operating officer of News Corp, replacing Peter Chernin who recently quit as Murdoch's second in command.
News Corp is the parent company of Murdoch's global array of businesses, ranging from America's Fox television network to Twentieth Century Fox films, the social networking website MySpace, Harper Collins publishing and newspapers including the Wall Street Journal, the Sun and the Times.
The decision to poach Carey means that James Murdoch, the media mogul's 35-year-old son and heir apparent, will have to wait longer to prove himself in his role as head of News Corp's operations in Europe and Asia.
Known for his distinctive handlebar moustache, Carey, 55, spent 15 years as a senior News Corp executive before departing for DirecTV in 2003. During his previous tenure, he oversaw negotiations securing Fox's rights to cover top US sports events including major league baseball, American football and the National Hockey League.
In a statement, Murdoch said: "Chase has been one of my closest advisers and friends for years and I am delighted we'll once again be working together across our businesses as we face the challenges and great opportunities ahead."
The appointment is likely to soothe any concerns among investors about heavyweight executive experience alongside the 78-year-old billionaire at the top of News Corp. Carey will join at the beginning of July, when Chernin is scheduled to step down.
In a research note published earlier in the week, Anthony DiClemente, an analyst at Barclays Capital, said Carey would benefit News Corp shares, which have been hit by falling profits and by Chernin's departure: "The addition of Carey would be a positive for News Corp given his solid track record at DirecTV and previous experience at News Corp."
Murdoch has always been reluctant to discuss plans for retirement, or to name a formal successor. However, James Murdoch, who chairs BSkyB, is widely considered to be the front-runner.
Murdoch's daughter, Elisabeth, runs her own television production company, Shine. His older son, Lachlan, quit executive duties at News Corp in order to return to his native Australia four years ago, although he remains on the company's board of directors.
* Rupert Murdoch
* Media business
* News Corporation
* News International
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jun/04/rupert-murdoch-news-corporatio-appointment
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