BSkyB’s chief operating officer Mike Darcey is to become CEO of News International, the London-based publisher of titles including The Times and The Sun.
The move follows the resignation of Tom Mockridge on the eve of News Corp’s planned split into video and publishing operations. Mockridge, though previously a newspaper man, had also been the CEO of Sky Italia.
The publishing company will retain the News Corp name while TV and film takes the name Fox Group. It will be headed by Chase Carey.
“Mike is a world-class executive with unprecedented strategic and commercial experience and I look forward to benefiting from his many talents. His broadcasting background will provide important leadership in the development of our already impressive suite of digital products at News International,” said Rupert Murdoch, who will be chairman of the new News Corporation and chairman and CEO of Fox Group.
Dow Jones editor-in-chief and managing editor of The Wall Street Journal Robert Thomson will become the CEO of the new proposed publishing entity.
Paul Cheesbrough, currently News Corporation’s chief technology officer, will take the same role at the new publishing company.
