This was published 1 year ago
Tony Abbott nominated to Fox Corporation board of directors
By Sarah McPhee
Former prime minister Tony Abbott has been nominated to the board of directors of Fox Corporation, a day after Rupert Murdoch announced he was stepping down and his son Lachlan Murdoch would become the sole chairman.
Fox Corporation announced Abbott’s nomination in a statement released on Friday (US time), saying he would be considered by shareholders at the annual meeting later this year. Technology executive Margaret “Peggy” Johnson has also been nominated.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott, pictured in May.Credit: James Brickwood
“I welcome Peggy Johnson and Tony Abbott’s nominations to the board,” Lachlan Murdoch said in a statement. “They bring skills, experience and perspectives that will contribute to the board and benefit Fox.”
The statement recognised Abbott’s contribution as the 28th Australian prime minister, Liberal leader and MP, and his role as an adviser to the UK Board of Trade since 2020.
Australian-born media mogul Rupert Murdoch, 92, announced on Thursday (US time) that he would transition from his roles as chair of Fox Corporation and executive chairman of News Corp in November.
Abbott declined to comment through a spokesperson on Saturday, who pointed to the Fox release.
There are presently six members of the board, in addition to the Murdochs, including former US House speaker Paul Ryan.
The Fox statement said investment executive Anne Dias and businessman Jacques Nasser have been directors since 2019, and will finish their terms of service after the 2023 meeting.
Rupert Murdoch’s departure as chairman comes after a tumultuous period at Fox News.
In April, the company agreed to pay $US787.5 million ($1.17 billion) to settle a defamation suit filed by Dominion Voting Systems after the cable TV network accused Dominion of rigging its voting machines against former president Donald Trump in the 2020 election.
Fox News, which caters to right-wing viewers, is also seeing competition for its audience from new entrants into the market, like Newsmax.
Rupert Murdoch will remain as “chairman emeritus” at both Fox Corporation and News Corp, while Lachlan Murdoch will become the sole chairman of both companies.
In his letter to staff, Murdoch insisted “our companies are in robust health, as am I” and noted that “in my new role, I can guarantee you that I will be involved every day in the contest of ideas”.
He has a history of appointing former world leaders as company board members, having previously recruited former Spanish prime minister José Maria Aznar to the News Corporation board. Aznar has held the position since 2006.
Since leaving office in 2015 Abbott has appeared at political events in the US and UK among other places, establishing his voice as a commentator on global affairs.
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