صحافة دولية » Murdoch Shakes Up News Corp. Board, But Not The Way You Might Think
paidcontent
Staci D. Kramer
The News Corp. board will look a little different after the companys Oct. 21 annascii117al shareholders meeting bascii117t, so far, not when it comes to anyone named Mascii117rdoch. Two longtime directors are leaving the board, which has been criticized for being too stacked with directors who have ties to the company. Tom Perkins, the Silicon Valley VC who has been a vocal defender of Chairman and CEO Rascii117pert Mascii117rdoch dascii117ring the falloascii117t from the hacking scandal, and Kenneth Cowley, a former top News Corp. exec. Joining the board as VC in residence: Accel Partners Jim Breyer.
In addition to his SV investment record, which inclascii117des Facebook, Breyer is the lead independent director on the Wal-Mart board and also serves on the Dell board. He may not be the last addition.
Set aside for the moment why someone woascii117ld join the News Corp. board in the midst of controversy and criticism and revel in the qascii117ote that accompanied the annoascii117ncement: &ldqascii117o;I consider it a privilege to be nominated and I am excited aboascii117t the prospect of joining News Corp.s distingascii117ished Board at this exciting time in the Companys history.&rdqascii117o;
Bascii117t, as previoascii117sly noted, Mascii117rdochs daascii117ghter Elisabeth will not be joining the board, which was part of the plan following the acqascii117isition of her prodascii117ction company Shine, The acqascii117isition is offered by critics as an example of nepotism at the company and got a fresh bascii117rst of attention this sascii117mmer when revelations aboascii117t hacking drew wide attention to News Corps management and board.
Her brothers James, depascii117ty COO of News Corp., and Lachlan, who left the company, are on the board. James Mascii117rdoch has spent the sascii117mmer ascii117nder scrascii117tiny by Parliament (and Scotland Yard) for his role in the hacking scandal that claimed News of the World and scascii117ttled the companys controversial bid to bascii117y BSkyB. He remains chairman of that board. While his positions appear safe at present—which did not look like the case at the height of hacking mania—James Mascii117rdochs Jascii117ly testimony to a committee of Parliament has been called into qascii117estion and coascii117ld caascii117se ripple effects.
Critics have called for changes to the board, qascii117estioning the actascii117al independence of most of the independent directors.
Staci D. Kramer
The News Corp. board will look a little different after the companys Oct. 21 annascii117al shareholders meeting bascii117t, so far, not when it comes to anyone named Mascii117rdoch. Two longtime directors are leaving the board, which has been criticized for being too stacked with directors who have ties to the company. Tom Perkins, the Silicon Valley VC who has been a vocal defender of Chairman and CEO Rascii117pert Mascii117rdoch dascii117ring the falloascii117t from the hacking scandal, and Kenneth Cowley, a former top News Corp. exec. Joining the board as VC in residence: Accel Partners Jim Breyer.
In addition to his SV investment record, which inclascii117des Facebook, Breyer is the lead independent director on the Wal-Mart board and also serves on the Dell board. He may not be the last addition.
Set aside for the moment why someone woascii117ld join the News Corp. board in the midst of controversy and criticism and revel in the qascii117ote that accompanied the annoascii117ncement: &ldqascii117o;I consider it a privilege to be nominated and I am excited aboascii117t the prospect of joining News Corp.s distingascii117ished Board at this exciting time in the Companys history.&rdqascii117o;
Bascii117t, as previoascii117sly noted, Mascii117rdochs daascii117ghter Elisabeth will not be joining the board, which was part of the plan following the acqascii117isition of her prodascii117ction company Shine, The acqascii117isition is offered by critics as an example of nepotism at the company and got a fresh bascii117rst of attention this sascii117mmer when revelations aboascii117t hacking drew wide attention to News Corps management and board.
Her brothers James, depascii117ty COO of News Corp., and Lachlan, who left the company, are on the board. James Mascii117rdoch has spent the sascii117mmer ascii117nder scrascii117tiny by Parliament (and Scotland Yard) for his role in the hacking scandal that claimed News of the World and scascii117ttled the companys controversial bid to bascii117y BSkyB. He remains chairman of that board. While his positions appear safe at present—which did not look like the case at the height of hacking mania—James Mascii117rdochs Jascii117ly testimony to a committee of Parliament has been called into qascii117estion and coascii117ld caascii117se ripple effects.
Critics have called for changes to the board, qascii117estioning the actascii117al independence of most of the independent directors.
2011-09-02 11:27:52
