Fox Networks Group said it has named executive vice president of business operations and development Ravi Ahuja as chief financial officer, replacing retiring CFO Del Mayberry who is leaving the company after three decades.
“Del has played an integral role in driving the success of Fox Networks Group and has contributed to the incredible growth of FNG’s television brands at a time of exponential global expansion. We thank Del for his many lasting contributions to the company and will miss him greatly,” said Fox Networks Group chairman and CEO Peter Rice in a statement.
Mayberry joined Fox in 1983 and was named senior vice president and CFO for Fox Broadcasting Company in 1998. He was promoted to EVP and CFO for the Fox Networks Group in 2002.
“We are deeply grateful for Del’s advice and counsel over his long tenure at Fox and wish him every success in the future,” FNG chief operating officer Randy Freer said in a statement. “Del leaves very big shoes to fill but Ravi is ideally suited to his new role. He has done an exceptional job running our business development and has a proven track record in financial management and corporate strategy that perfectly fits the needs of our television portfolio at a time of seismic change for our industry.”
As CFO, Ahuja will have direct management of finance and accounting and will continue to oversee business development for all FNG business units: Fox Broadcasting Company; Fox Cable Networks, including FX Networks; Fox Sports Media Group, and National Geographic Partners; and Fox Networks Group Europe, Asia and Latin America. He will report to Rice and Freer and work closely with 21st Century Fox CFO John Nallen.
"During a time of real transformation in the television business, Ravi has demonstrated extraordinary strategic insight on the many opportunities we have explored,” Rice continued in his statement. “He has shepherded much of our successful M&A activity, especially in the non-linear space, and he is an ideal fit for this position.”
Some of those deals included the formation of National Geographic Partners, the YES Network and Sports Time Ohio RSN transactions and the planning and formulation of Fox Networks’ new channel strategy. Ahuja’s group is also active in new technology initiatives including Hulu and other streaming services.
Prior to Fox, Ahuja was CFO of Virgin Entertainment Group and previously was an associate at McKinsey & Company in New York and Los Angeles. He is currently on the boards of Roku and YES Network and has also served on the LA Mayor’s Council on Innovation and Industry.
