• by Wayne Friedman , October 20, 2018

In somewhat of a surprise, the new Fox company has named Charlie Collier, president/GM of AMC Networks, as its new CEO, entertainment.

Collier will transition into his role at Fox on November 1.

Collier, a former longtime cable network advertising executive, will oversee the Fox Broadcasting Network and the company’s entertainment programming strategy across live, scripted and non-scripted content.

This comes after a major transition of the company -- and other senior-level executive moves.

In July, shareholders at Walt Disney and 21st Century Fox, approved a deal in which Disney would buy Fox TV and film businesses -- its movie/TV production studio, FX Networks, its 30% stake in digital video platform, Hulu, and other assets -- for $71 billion.

This leaves Fox with its broadcast network, Fox News Channel, Fox Business, and national sports network group FS1.

Currently, Dana Walden and Gary Newman, are the co-chairs-CEOs, Fox Television Group. They will stay during the transition. After that, Walden will become chairman of Disney Television Studios and ABC Entertainment.

Newman will depart Fox. Some analysts believed he would remain with the company.

Under Collier's long tenure at AMC, starting in 2006, the company aired various hit cable TV network shows, including “Mad Men,” “Breaking Bad” and “The Walking Dead.” 

Previously, Collier held senior executive roles in advertising at Oxygen, A&E Networks and TeleRep.