Indian-origin executive in top post in News Corp

News Corp on Monday announced a major restructuring of its top management in line with its decision to split into two publicly traded firms, naming a new head for its troubled British newspaper arm and appointing an Indian- origin executive to head the publishing business’ finances.

The company said Dow Jones Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor of The Wall Street Journal Robert Thomson will become the CEO of the new proposed publishing entity, following the company’s intended separation into two independent, publicly traded companies.

In the new role, Thomson will have to confront a lingering scandal in the UK News Corp that closed its News of the World newspaper in July 2011 after a phone hacking scandal.

The publishing entity would retain the name of News Corporation and the media and entertainment company would be named Fox Group. News Corp  CEO Rupert Murdoch would serve as Chairman of the new News Corporation and Chairman and CEO of Fox Group.

Murdoch announced that Bedi Ajay Singh, who had most recently served as President, Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer for MGM Studios, would assume the role of CFO of the newly formed publishing company.