David Haslingden Leaving Fox Networks Group

NEW YORK: David Haslingden is stepping down from his role as the president and COO of Fox Networks Group.

Haslingden has held the post since January 2011. Prior to that he was the CEO of Fox International Channels and National Geographic Channels Worldwide for more than ten years. He is leaving Fox Networks Group at the end of the calendar year to return to his native Australia and spend more time with his family.

Chase Carey, the president and COO of News Corporation, commented: "Since joining News Corporation, David has been a driving force in the evolution of the pay-TV industry in every corner of the world. His leadership in the international television marketplace has uniquely positioned Fox to succeed for years to come in what has quickly become one of our company’s fastest-growing business segments. I respect his decision to return to Australia to spend more time with his family, and we wish him nothing but the best during the next phase of his career."

Peter Rice, the chairman and CEO of Fox Networks Group, added: "David has built an incredible foundation for us domestically and across Asia, Australia Europe and the Middle East. As we look to continue FNG’s incredible growth trajectory, our future successes will in many ways be the result of David’s innovative leadership over the last several years. He will be missed by all of us."

Haslingden said: "To my many colleagues in the United States and 55 countries around the world, thank you for making my career at News Corporation the most productive and exhilarating experience I could have ever imagined. In a little over a decade we’ve built a behemoth internationally and in the last two years we’ve helped unify FNG and set it up for a future of super-charged growth. But as terrific as Fox and National Geographic are, my family is by far my greatest love, and being away from them for almost two years is long enough. I’m delighted to be on my way home."