• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, December 10, 2009

A top News Corp. executive who has overseen businesses such as Harper Collins and TV Guide, is leaving to build a nonprofit that wants to seed new ventures for young women.

Anthea Disney, executive vice president for content, will retire after 20 years with the company, where she led the book publisher and the now-divested Gemstar-TV Guide -- as well as content for an early digital venture.

News Corp. said Disney "plans to counsel young female entrepreneurs" through the organization The Women's Enterprise Initiative, which she co-founded in Connecticut. The group will match corporate executives with young women and help fund business plans.

"Anthea's keen creative instincts are equal to her business acumen ... I will miss her immensely but understand her desire to shift gears at this point in her life," stated News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch.

Disney has been part of the company's worldwide executive management committee.