Murdoch makes big succession planning step with jobs for sons

Rupert Murdoch has taken a big step in the succession planning of his media empire by appointing his sons Lachlan and James to top roles.

Lachlan, 42, will be non-executive co-chairman of 21st Century Fox and News Corp, and James, 41, will become co-chief operating officer of 21st Century Fox, reporting to Chase Carey, president and chief operating officer, but sharing many responsibilities with him. The brothers were already directors of both companies.

There is no new role for Elisabeth Murdoch, the third sibling from Rupert’s second marriage, who reportedly criticized News Corp’s handling of the phone-hacking scandal. The moves come nine years after Lachlan, then his father’s heir apparent, quit as News Corp’s deputy chief operating officer, having struggled to rival the influence of other executives including Fox’s abrasive Roger Ailes. That resignation had appeared to leave his younger brother James as Rupert’s most likely successor. However, in 2012 James was forced to resign as chairman of the British newspaper business News International during the phone-hacking scandal, checking his rise.