Former European TV chief Mockridge to leave News Corp

Former Sky Italia and News Corp European television chief executive Tom Mockridge has resigned as CEO of News International, News Corp’s newspaper publishing arm, and will leave the company at the end of the year to pursue other opportunities.

Mockridge, who became CEO at News International last year, had previously served as CEO of Australian pay TV provider Foxtel and worked at Star TV and Sky NZ before moving to Italy in 2002 to create Sky Italia following the merger of Italian pay TV groups Telepiù and Stream under News Corp’s management.

“For nearly 22 years, it has been my pleasure to have Tom Mockridge as a colleague,” said News Corp chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch.  “Whether it was his early days with our newspaper group in Australia, his incredible work building Sky Italia, or his steadfast leadership of News International, Tom has always been a skilled executive and a trusted friend. His decision to step down is absolutely and entirely his own. I am sorry to see him leave us but I know he will be a great success wherever he goes.”

It is not yet known who will replace Mockridge, whose departure comes as News Corp moves to demerge its publishing division, to be headed by former Wall Street Journal managing editor Robert Thomson. The company will control News International’s UK, US and Australian news titles and the HarperCollins book publishing business.