News Corp. names William Lewis CEO of Dow Jones, effective immediately; Lewis, most recently CEO of News Corp, to focus strategy on customer relations and feedback

Aimee Bellah

NEW YORK , May 8, 2014 (press release) – News Corp announced today the appointment of William Lewis as Chief Executive Officer of Dow Jones, effective immediately. Mr. Lewis, most recently Chief Creative Officer of News Corp, was named interim CEO of Dow Jones in January.

Robert Thomson, Chief Executive of News Corp, said: “Will Lewis has brought focus and energy to the task at Dow Jones, which has refined its institutional products and reconnected with core clients. He has also brought extra vigor to The Wall Street Journal franchise, which is developing its digital strategy, an area in which Will has particular expertise. I am very confident in Will’s ability to grow the business in the months and years ahead.”

William Lewis said: “I appreciate Robert’s confidence in me and I am grateful to all at Dow Jones who have worked so hard these past few months to make progress across our businesses.” He added: “We are building a powerful team that is devoted to crafting a strategy for growth that marries the rich legacy of Dow Jones with the digital innovation that is defining our future.”

During Mr. Lewis’ tenure as interim CEO, Dow Jones has reinforced its long-term commitment to the institutional business, revitalizing its strategy with a strong emphasis on customer relations and feedback. Dow Jones recently rolled out multiple enhancements to the flagship Factiva information product.

Anoushka Healy, Chief Strategy Officer for News Corp, will assume responsibilities previously overseen by Mr. Lewis as Chief Creative Officer.

ABOUT MR. LEWIS

Mr. Lewis re-joined News Corp in 2010 as Group General Manager at News International (now News UK). He was appointed Chief Creative Officer at News Corp by Mr. Thomson last year to build new businesses, target acquisitions and drive digital initiatives for the company.

In January, he was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of REA Group, the number one property portal in Australia. News Corp is majority owner of REA.

Mr. Lewis previously served as Editor-in-Chief of the Telegraph Media Group in the UK, where he helped create an industry leading, digitally integrated newsroom and pioneered web-first publishing.

Mr. Lewis also served as Business Editor of The Sunday Times and Global News Editor of the Financial Times. As a journalist, he covered mergers & acquisitions and fund management, among other topics.

###

The following is a timeline of William Lewis’s career:

1994 – 2002: Financial Times (UK and New York. Various positions)
2002 – 2005: The Sunday Times (UK. Business Editor)
2005 – 2010: The Telegraph Media Group (UK. Editor-in-Chief and other roles)

2010 – 2011: Group General Manager, News International (UK)
2011 – 2012: News Corp Management & Standards Committee (UK)
2013 – 2014: News Corp Chief Creative Officer (UK and New York)

Attended Bristol University (UK), where he read economics and politics. He completed a postgraduate diploma in Journalism at City University, London. Awarded honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Bristol University and honorary Doctor of Letters degree from the University of Lincoln (UK). Named UK Journalist of the Year in 2010 for leading the team that exposed expenses abuses by British parliamentarians.

* All content is copyrighted by Industry Intelligence, or the original respective author or source. You may not recirculate, redistrubte or publish the analysis and presentation included in the service without Industry Intelligence's prior written consent. Please review our terms of use.