S&P Global Market Intelligence presents a weekly rundown of executive changes in the U.S. technology, media and telecommunications industries.
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* 21st Century Fox Inc. named three senior executives that will join the new Fox company to be spun off as a result of a sale of Fox assets to Walt Disney Co. Rita Tuzon, who currently serves as executive vice president and general counsel at Fox Networks Group, was named executive vice president and corporate general counsel for the new Fox entity. 21st Century Fox Deputy General Counsel Jill Ratner will serve the new Fox as executive vice president and chief litigation counsel. Kevin Lord, executive vice president of human resources at FOX News Channel (US), will continue in that role but will broaden his responsibilities to provide human resources oversight across all of the new Fox entity. The appointments will become effective upon close of the Disney transaction. The company also appointed Danny O'Brien executive vice president and head of government relations and Hope Hicks executive vice president and chief communications officer of the new Fox entity.
* Similarly, Disney unveiled plans for a new organizational structure for its Media Networks segment, also conditional upon closing of its Fox asset deal. Peter Rice, president of 21st Century Fox and chairman and CEO of Fox Networks Group, will become chairman of Walt Disney Television and co-chair of Disney Media Networks. People who will report to Rice include Dana Walden, chairman, Disney Television Studios and ABC Entertainment; John Landgraf, chairman of FX Networks LLC and FX Productions; and ABC News Inc. President James Goldston. Ben Sherwood, co-chair, Disney Media Networks and president, Disney-ABC Television Group, will retain his current role during the transition period until the acquisition closes.
Media and technology industry moves
* ANGI Homeservices Inc. promoted Chief Product Officer Brandon Ridenour to CEO of the company, succeeding Chris Terrill after his departure from the role at the end of this year. Terrill will continue on with the company in an advisory capacity.
* Brian O'Kelley, founder and CEO of AppNexus Inc., will transition from day-to-day operations to an advisory role, people familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal. Former AppNexus CFO Jonathan Hsu and former Chief People and Legal Officer Nithya Das are also moving to advisory roles. AT&T Inc. acquired AppNexus in August.
* 8x8 Inc. appointed Steven Gatoff as CFO, replacing Mary Ellen Genovese, who will become managing director of European operations. Gatoff will join the company Oct. 15. Genovese, who has served as 8x8's CFO since November 2014, will remain as CFO through the company's Form 10-Q filing for the second quarter of fiscal 2019. She succeeds Kevin Scott-Cowell, who is set to retire Oct. 31.
* Discovery Inc. promoted Karen Leever to president of U.S. digital products and marketing. In this role, Leever will continue to oversee the media giant's suite of 18 TV Everywhere GO apps, in addition to leading the company's domestic direct-to-consumer efforts. She will also manage Discovery's U.S. digital businesses. Leever was previously executive vice president and general manager of digital media at Discovery. Leever will report to Peter Faricy, CEO, global direct to consumer.
Communications industry moves
* BCE Inc. appointed Mirko Bibic COO of the company and Bell Canada. Bibic will continue to lead legal and regulatory strategy for BCE and the Bell group of companies, according to an Oct. 4 news release.