In the midst of navigating through legal challenges, Fox Corporation has appointed a new chief lawyer to lead the company’s legal, compliance, and regulatory matters. This announcement comes in the wake of a turbulent legal landscape, with Fox facing various lawsuits and settlements related to election falsehoods and defamation complaints.
Adam Ciongoli, formerly the executive vice president and general counsel of the Campbell Soup Company, is stepping into the role to oversee all legal affairs at Fox. With a wealth of legal experience from his previous positions at Lincoln Financial Group and Time Warner, Europe, Ciongoli is poised to provide strong leadership as the company navigates through these legal challenges. His extensive legal expertise across various industries and government is seen as a valuable asset to the company by Fox’s chief executive, Lachlan Murdoch.
In light of the recent legal settlements and ongoing lawsuits faced by Fox, Ciongoli’s appointment is significant as the company seeks to move forward and build on the momentum established by its industry-leading brands.
Acknowledging the legal hurdles that Fox has had to overcome, Ciongoli expressed his optimism about the company’s future, stating, “FOX is uniquely positioned to build on the momentum that has been established by its industry leading brands.” His appointment marks a strategic move in the company’s efforts to strengthen its legal and compliance functions.
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This appointment also follows the departure of Viet Dinh, Fox’s former chief legal and policy officer and general counsel, who received a substantial severance payment. In the wake of these changes, the company remains committed to addressing the legal issues it has faced, including recent settlements and ongoing lawsuits.
One of the notable legal settlements involved a lawsuit brought by former Fox News producer Abby Grossberg, who alleged that she was subjected to sexist, racist, and antisemitic comments while working at the company. Grossberg also claimed that she was misled as she prepared to be deposed in the defamation suit brought by Dominion Voting Systems. The settlement of this lawsuit, along with the recent appointments and changes in the company’s legal leadership, reflects Fox’s commitment to addressing and resolving legal challenges.
Ciongoli’s compensation package includes a base salary of $1,750,000, with a target bonus of $2.75 million and a shareholder award of up to $3 million. Additionally, to offset the value of forfeited awards from Campbell, he will receive an additional award of restricted stock units with a value of $2.35 million. His start date is set for December 1, as he prepares to take on this pivotal role at Fox.
As the company looks to the future under new legal leadership, there is a sense of optimism that Fox will continue to uphold its industry-leading standards and navigate through legal challenges with resilience and determination. With Ciongoli at the helm of the company’s legal affairs, Fox is positioned to address and overcome the legal hurdles it faces while maintaining its commitment to upholding legal standards and compliance within the organization.
