News Corp Australia chief executive Julian Clarke will step down at the end of the year, after just two years in the role.
Clarke came out of retirement to step into the role following the abrupt departure of then-chief executive Kim Williams in August 2013.
News Corp announced in a tweet that the company’s chief operating officer Peter Tonagh had been appointed to replace Clarke.
Meanwhile, APN News and Media Chief executive Michael Miller is joining News Corp Australia as executive chairman.
He will step down from APN on September 1 and the media group has appointed the head of its radio operations, Ciaran Davis, as his replacement.
News Corp’s global chief executive Robert Thomson said the changes were part of the company’s plans to expand its presence in Asia.
“Our clear plan is to use Australia as a base for a significant expansion of our presence in Asia, while ensuring that our traditional businesses in Australia are developed to their full potential,” he said in a statement.
“Whether in broadcasting or the powerful platform that is print or in digital classifieds, we have a team that will vigorously pursue growth and strive to inculcate the sense of social purpose that has always been the cornerstone of the News Corp culture.”
He also paid tribute to Clarke.
“We must all recognise the genuinely extraordinary work of Julian Clarke, who has helped to fortify the foundations for our future, and done so with dignity, creativity and integrity,” he said.
“Julian’s contribution to the company and to Australia will echo for many, many years to come.”
The moves come as News Corp announced it would cut jobs and close bureaus at its subsidiary Dow Jones, which owns the Wall Street Journal.
News Corp reported a seven per cent slide in earnings in its most recent quarterly results due chiefly to weakness in its core news and information division, where earnings slumped 23 per cent.
It also comes amid a major shakeup in Rupert Murdoch’s media empire.
Murdoch, 84, has installed in son’s Lachlan and James at the top of 21st Century Fox, which was split from News Corp in 2013.
James has been appointed chief executive of Fox, while Lachlan has been appointed co-executive chairman alongside his father.
Lachlan is already working with his father as co-executive chairman of News Corp.
– AAP
