Fox Entertainment Promotes Rob Wade To CEO

Wade most recently served as chairman of Fox Alternative, overseeing the network’s unscripted programming, specials and alternative development slate, as well as Fox Alternative Entertainment.

Wade will take up his new role effective immediately, having most recently served as president of alternative entertainment and specials at the company. He will report to Fox Corporation CEO and executive chair Lachlan Murdoch.

With the promotion, Wade will oversee Fox Entertainment’s full portfolio, which includes animation and animation adjacent companies such as Bento Box Entertainment and Blockchain Creative Labs. Other Fox divisions which will fall under his remit include MarVista Entertainment, TMZ, Fox Alternative Entertainment (which he launched), Studio Ramsay Global, Fox Entertainment Studios, and worldwide content sales unit Fox Entertainment Global.

Wade’s experience lies mostly in unscripted, so what kind of impact his promotion will have on animation is hard to predict. Although it has been reported that a main reason for his rapid rise through the Fox ranks in recent years has been his penchant for fiscal responsibility; so perhaps there may be a tightening of the belt on the way.

In a statement, Lachlan Murdoch, Fox Corp. executive chair and CEO, said: “Since the formation of Fox Entertainment, Rob has been an integral part of the leadership team responsible for delivering on its long-term strategy of creating an independent media company built on broadcast, developing an owned content portfolio and maintaining a disciplined in-house infrastructure. Given Rob’s sharp creative instincts and proven operational acumen, he is well-suited to lead Fox Entertainment in what promises to be an exciting next chapter in its rich history.”

Wade added: “I am honored to be entrusted with leading Fox Entertainment into the future with an exceptionally talented team, whom I know very well, as we build and expand on Fox’s legacy of storytelling excellence, entrepreneurial energy, and innovation. It’s a transformative time across the global entertainment landscape, presenting limitless opportunity and, above all, creativity, making the outlook ahead bright and exhilarating.”

Fox Entertainment president Michael Thorn, who had also been in the running for the top job, will remain and continue to focus on the network’s scripted content, now reporting to Wade. As part of his expanded oversite, Wade will oversee the broadcast network’s content, as well as its owned production shingles, including animation house Bento Box Entertainment, TMZ, MarVista Entertainment and Studio Ramsay Global, as well as unscripted studio Fox Alternative Entertainment, scripted production label Fox Entertainment Studios, Blockchain Creative Labs and the content sales unit Fox Entertainment Global.