NewsCorp promotes James Murdoch to international chief

James Murdoch will oversee the development of NewsCorp’s international operations after being promoted to a newly created role.

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Murdoch will be responsible for product and service innovation across the company’s international portfolio as its deputy chief operating officer, chairman and CEO of International.

NewsCorp says the switch reflects how the company has become “increasingly global and consumer focused”, which means it has more opportunities to add new “dimensions” to its international businesses.

The promotion expands Murdoch’s current role of chairman and CEO for Europe and Asia and will see him relocate to New York, although he will still be responsible for those territories. For this reason, NewsCorp is not seeking a replacement for his former Europe and Asia-specific role.

The move makes Murdoch the third most senior executive at the company and suggests he is likely to succeed his father as chairman and CEO when he retires.

Murdoch will continue to report to NewsCorp’s deputy chairman, president and COO Chase Carey and will work closely with Murdoch senior.

Carey says: “James has demonstrated in an array of roles that he is a shrewd and decisive operator who can deftly navigate complex issues to transform businesses. He has equally shown a unique understanding of the emerging technologies and the digital forces that are reshaping our industry.”

James Murdoch has worked at NewsCorp for the past 15 years. From 2003 to 2007 he held the role of BSkyB CEO.

NewsCorp is currently bidding to takeover the 61% of BSkyB it does not currently own.