Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Hope Hicks Gets Gig With New FOX

Hope Hicks
Former White House Communications Director Hope Hicks will become chief communications officer of Fox, the new company that will consist of 21st Century Fox Inc.’s entertainment and news assets not being sold to Walt Disney Co.

The so-called new Fox will comprise Fox Broadcasting, Fox News and Fox Sports. Hicks will officially start as executive vice president and chief communications officer when the Disney deal closes, which is expected to occur during the first half of next year, a 21st Century Fox spokesman said.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the hiring of Hicks, who was a senior adviser to President Trump, will further contribute to a perception of closeness between Fox and the Trump administration. Trump earlier this year hired Bill Shine, a former top Fox News executive, to serve as White House deputy chief of staff for communications. Mr. Trump has also conducted a number of interviews with Fox reporters and commentators.

In her role, Hicks will oversee corporate communications for Fox and work closely with both Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Lachlan Murdoch and Viet Dinh, chief legal and policy officer, to whom she will report. She will be based in Los Angeles.

Separately, Walt Disney on Monday announced the new executive leadership of its television operations after the 21st Century Fox deal closes. Senior executives from 21st Century Fox’s television arm who will have significant roles at Disney include Peter Rice, who will oversee the bulk of the television unit, and Dana Walden, who will be a top creative executive.

At Disney, Rice will become chairman of Walt Disney Television and co-chair of Disney Media Networks, reporting to Disney Chief Executive Robert Iger. Rice’s portfolio includes the ABC broadcast network, ABC News and the Disney Channel as well as the combined Disney and 21st Century Fox television-production units. Walden, who will report to Mr. Rice, will serve as chairman of Disney Television Studios and ABC Entertainment. John Landgraf, currently head of FX Networks, will remain in that position at Disney.

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