Media giant Fox Corporation shook up its ethics and legal departments Monday with the appointments of a general counsel and chief ethics and compliance officer (CECO).
Nicholas Trutanich has joined the organization as executive vice president and CECO and will be part of new General Counsel Jeff Taylor’s team. Trutanich, a former U.S. attorney for Nevada, will “provide ethics advice, oversee compliance training and investigations, and be FOX’s point of contact with law enforcement and regulatory agencies,” according to a press release.
In addition to Nevada, Trutanich previously served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California. Fox cited his expertise in gaming regulation as a plus as the organization looks to push into sports betting.
“Nick is an experienced trial lawyer, a proven leader, and an adviser with impeccable integrity,” said Taylor in a statement. “He is an ideal fit for our already strong team.”
Taylor has been a member of the Fox team since 2019, when he joined as executive vice president and chief litigation counsel. In his new role, he will oversee the company’s legal function, reporting to Chief Legal and Policy Officer Viet Dinh.
“Jeff is the consummate professional. He confidently navigates complex legal matters, ensures best corporate governance, and inspires his teams. Jeff will put all that experience and expertise into greater action as he leads our legal function,” stated Dinh.
Prior to joining Fox, Taylor served as deputy general counsel and chief compliance officer for General Motors and as general counsel of Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. He has over 15 years of experience working for the federal government, including as the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia from 2006-09.
Fox has been a popular target for lawsuits in recent years, the most high-profile of which have targeted Fox News’s opinionated program hosts. The network was on the receiving end of a $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit brought by Smartmatic USA earlier this year over anchors’ claims the company’s voting machines helped rig the 2020 U.S. election in favor of President Joe Biden.
Fox has also faced legal pressure in sexual harassment lawsuits against employees of Fox News, including former anchor Bill O’Reilly and former Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes.
Fox also announced Monday that Claudia Teran will remain executive vice president and corporate general counsel, as well as general counsel of FOX Sports.
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