• by Wayne Friedman , January 6, 2011

Coming only weeks after a major Fox TV executive retired, now Tony Vinciquerra -- the most senior Fox TV executive -- has resigned.

A 10-year veteran, Vinciquerra had been chairman/CEO of the Fox Television Group since 2002. In a memo to staffers, he said he wants to be involved in smaller, more aggressive businesses.

"It's time for me to pursue a new, probably more entrepreneurial path, and I'm excited to see what unfolds before me," he said.

Vinciquerra's accomplishments included ramping up cable networks, specifically FX and National Geographic Channel.

Chase Carey, News Corp.'s chief operating officer, said in a statement: "We are grateful for his leadership over the past decade and, while we will miss his guidance, we respect his decision to seek new challenges at this point in his career."

Vinciquerra had two years left on his contract, according to reports.

Carey says Fox Television will now be reorganized with David Haslingden, chief executive officer of Fox International Channels, now taking on Vinciquerra's job as president/COO of Fox Networks Group, reporting to Carey. Haslingden's portfolio includes oversight of functions from ad sales to business development.

Other television executives reporting directly to Carey will be David Hill, chairman and CEO of Fox Sports Media Group; Peter Rice, chairman, entertainment, Fox Networks Group; and Mike Hopkins, president of affiliate sales and marketing for Fox Networks. Hernan Lopez is being promoted to president/CEO of Fox International Channels, reporting to Haslingden.

Randy Freer and Eric Shanks, both presidents at Fox Sports, will now be co-president and COOs of Fox Sports Media Group. That includes cable outlets such as Fox Soccer Channel and Speed.

Late last year, Jon Nesvig president of advertising sales for Fox Broadcasting Company, announced he was retiring after a long career.

Vinciquerra added: "I've had an amazing decade at this company and am proud of the many accomplishments we've made as a team, particularly how we've worked together to evolve the retransmission consent landscape, and changing the financial structure of broadcast television in America while also building one of the industry's most vibrant cable channel portfolios."