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James Murdoch Biography

(Businessman and CEO of '21st Century Fox' (2015 - 2019))

Birthday: December 13, 1972 (Sagittarius)

Born In: Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom

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James Rupert Jacob Murdoch is a British-American businessman and the former CEO of 21st Century Fox, one of the many companies under News Corporation, a media empire built by his father and media mogul Rupert Murdoch. News Corporation had multiple companies under its wing, including both visual and print media companies across the three continents of North America, Asia, and Europe. One such company is Star Television, an Asian satellite broadcasting company that was once facing huge losses. Upon joining as the CEO, James Murdoch single-handedly revived its business and saved the company from collapsing. One of the reasons why Murdoch is so successful as a businessman is because he has always been against micromanagement and allows the managers under him to do the work and take the decisions that don’t require his direct attention. He is also someone who often relies on his father to guide him and speaks to him regularly. In 2011, he had to close the British tabloid newspaper ‘News of the World’ due to the infamous phone hacking scandal that he and his father got involved in.

Birthday: December 13, 1972 (Sagittarius)

Born In: Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom

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Quick Facts

British Celebrities Born In December

Also Known As: James Rupert Jacob Murdoch

Age: 51 Years, 51 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Kathryn Hufschmid (m. 2000)

father: Rupert Murdoch

mother: Anna Murdoch Mann

siblings: Elisabeth Murdoch, Lachlan Murdoch

children: Anneka Murdoch, Emerson Murdoch, Walter Murdoch

Born Country: England

CEOs American Men

Notable Alumni: Horace Mann School, The Harvard Lampoon

City: Wimbledon, England

More Facts

education: Horace Mann School, The Harvard Lampoon

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You wanted to know

  • 1

    What is James Murdoch's role in the media industry?

    James Murdoch is a prominent figure in the media industry and has held various leadership positions in companies such as 21st Century Fox and News Corp.
  • 2

    Has James Murdoch been involved in any controversies?

    Yes, James Murdoch has faced scrutiny and controversy over his handling of certain corporate decisions and responses to various scandals within the companies he has been associated with.
  • 3

    How has James Murdoch contributed to the digital transformation of traditional media companies?

    James Murdoch has been a key player in spearheading digital initiatives and strategies within media organizations to adapt to the changing landscape of media consumption and distribution.
  • 4

    What are James Murdoch's views on the future of media and technology?

    James Murdoch is known for his forward-thinking perspectives on the intersection of media and technology, advocating for innovation and adaptation to stay relevant in the digital age.
  • 5

    How has James Murdoch influenced the global reach and impact of media conglomerates?

    James Murdoch's leadership has played a significant role in expanding the global footprint and influence of major media conglomerates, shaping the industry's dynamics on a worldwide scale.

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Childhood & Early Life
James Murdoch was born in Wimbledon, London, England, on 13th December 1972, to Rupert Murdoch and the Scottish journalist Anna Murdoch Mann. He has five siblings. He was considered the smartest of all his kids by Rupert Murdoch. Young James was also a rebel.
He did his schooling from Horace Mann School in New York City and graduated in 1991. He then studied film and history from Harvard University but dropped out in 1995.
He went on to develop a record label with his university friends, thus forming Rawkus Records, an independent hip hop record label.
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Career
James Murdoch joined News Corporation in 1996. A couple of years later, the company bought Rawkus Records, which was making a profit of $2.5 million annually.
He was put in charge of the web operations of News Corporation in 1998 as he had a huge interest in the internet. Upon taking charge, he brought about heavy losses to the company as he made his father invest in a number of ventures pertaining to the internet.
His failure in the internet ventures didn’t deter the faith his father had in him. In 2000, he was appointed the CEO of Star Television, an Asian satellite service division of News Corporation. He moved to Hong Kong and revived its dying business.
Upon joining Star Television, he immediately streamlined the operations and started focusing on generating content pertaining to local markets. He also shifted his focus to India and China, two of the largest markets in Asia.
He helped introduce some popular programs to the audiences, including ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’, the Indian version of ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ which turned out to be one of the most-watched television programs in Indian history.
In February 2003, he became the Director of BSkyB, a company in which News Corporation had a minority stake of 39%. Through this, he became the youngest CEO of an FTSE 100 company.
In February 2009, he was appointed as a non-executive director in GlaxoSmithKline, the British Pharmaceutical company. After three years, he stepped down from this position.
In April 2014, Murdoch joined the board of True[X] Media, a start-up in the field of advertisement. In the subsequent year, his father stepped down from the post of CEO of 21st Century Fox and appointed James as the CEO.
In January 2016, Murdoch became the chairman of Sky, a broadcast company based in Britain. The following year, he became an independent director of Tesla.
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In 2018, he stepped down from the position of chairman of Sky as the telecom giant Comcast bought a major stake in the company. However, he is still continuing as the director of Tesla.
Phone Hacking Scandal
The now-defunct ‘News of the World’ and a few other British newspapers owned by Rupert Murdoch became involved in an infamous phone-hacking scandal that came to light in 2011. In the wake of the scandal, James Murdoch announced the closure of ‘News of the World.’
Family & Personal Life
In 2000, James Murdoch got married to Kathryn Hufschmid Murdoch who works in the Clinton Climate Initiative. They have three children from their marriage.
In 2013, the couple started Quadrivium Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to resolve various social issues. They are also involved in numerous charitable endeavors and have donated money to the Clinton Foundation, a nonprofit organization run by the Clinton family.
Facts About James Murdoch
James Murdoch is known for his passion for extreme sports, including kiteboarding and mountain biking.
He is an accomplished pilot and holds a private pilot's license, often enjoying flying as a hobby.
James Murdoch is a dedicated philanthropist and has been involved in various charitable initiatives, supporting causes such as education and environmental conservation.
He is a music enthusiast and has been spotted attending music festivals and concerts around the world.
James Murdoch is a keen advocate for digital innovation and has been instrumental in driving technological advancements within the media industry.

See the events in life of James Murdoch in Chronological Order

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