News Corp CEO Robert Thomson accepts contract extension to June 2030

Chair Lachlan Murdoch praised the CEO’s transformational leadership and role in evolving the company to meet the demands of the modern digital age. The 64-year-old has been at the helm of News Corp since 2013.

Robert Thomson oversaw the sale of Foxtel to sports streamer DAZN. Picture: Denis Charlet/AFP

News Corp chief executive Robert Thomson will guide the global media organisation into the next decade as the industry navigates an era of unprecedented change with the rapid rise of artificial intelligence.

The company announced on Monday that it had extended Mr Thomson’s contract until June 2030 in recognition of his transformational leadership and enduring advocacy for journalism and intellectual property rights protection.

The 64-year-old has been at the helm of News Corp, which owns HarperCollins Publishers, digital real estate businesses, Australia’s largest network of newspapers, including The Australian, and mastheads in the US and UK, since 2013, with his previous contract running until June 2027.

Robert Thomson. Picture: Supplied

Mr Thomson has been a global pioneer when it comes to securing landmark agreements with major technology platforms, such as Google, Meta and most recently OpenAI, and aggressively protected the company’s intellectual property as AI changes the way people search for and consume news.

Under his stewardship, News Corp’s digital revenue has expanded considerably, growing from about 20 per cent of the organisation’s total revenue in 2014 to now account for about 50 per cent as of fiscal 2024, reducing the company’s exposure to traditional advertising cycles.

Chair Lachlan Murdoch praised Mr Thomson’s transformational leadership and role in evolving the company to meet the demands of the modern digital age.

“Robert has been instrumental in News Corp’s growth and transformation, and his vision and leadership are extremely important as the company continues to navigate this era of rapid change,” he said.

“Robert has created exceptional shareholder value, orchestrated a meaningful transformation of our asset base, and made strategic investments in growth drivers like Dow Jones, Digital Real Estate Services and Book Publishing.

“He is a crucial voice in the fight for publishers and journalists in the digital age, and a strong advocate for intellectual property rights. I look forward to his continued leadership.”

As well as ensuring the licensing of the company’s intellectual property in exchange for meaningful compensation, Mr Thomson has also overseen strong performance in book publishing, including growth in audiobooks supported by the strategic partnership with Spotify, and the sale of Foxtel to international sports streamer, DAZN, earlier this year.

Mr Thomson began his career in journalism in 1979, when he joined The Herald in Melbourne, working as a copy boy before moving into finance reporting, and served as editor-in-chief of Dow Jones & Company, managing editor of The Wall Street Journal and the editor of The Times of London, before being appointed CEO in 2013.