Bill Shine has been seen by many as the main anchor and connection to the news organization that long-time Fox News chief Roger Ailes built. | Getty Fox News co-president Bill Shine resigns amid network turmoil

Adding yet another chapter to the ongoing changes at Fox News, network co-president Bill Shine has resigned from his post, the network announced on Monday.

Shine, who was named co-president after the ouster of long-time Fox News chief Roger Ailes last summer, has been seen by many as the main anchor and connection to the news organization that Ailes built.


Shine’s exit is expected to fuel the speculation within the network that a bigger housecleaning is coming, as owner Rupert Murdoch cedes more power to his two sons, who were widely believed to have been behind the ouster of longtime host Bill O’Reilly among sexual harassment allegations.

“Sadly, Bill Shine resigned today. I know Bill was respected and liked by everybody at Fox news. We will all miss him,” Rupert Murdoch wrote in a memo to staff obtained by POLITICO. "Suzanne Scott becomes President, Programming and Jay Wallace President News. Fox News continues to break both viewing and revenue records, for which I thank you all. I am sure we can do even better.”

Scott, who has been with Fox News since 1996, becomes one of the highest ranked women in Fox News’ history, alongside recently appointed CFO Amy Listerman, whose first day was Monday.

“Suzanne and Jay are recognized industry leaders," Murdoch said. "They have both played a large part in assembling the deepest bench of talented broadcasters and journalists. They will lead FOX News to an even more successful future.”

Jack Abernethy, who was also elevated in the wake of Ailes' departure, will keep his position as co-president of Fox News and CEO of Fox Television Stations.

In a separate statement, Murdoch called Monday a “significant day for all at Fox News.”

"Bill has played a huge role in building Fox News to its present position as the nation’s biggest and most important cable channel in the history of the industry,” he said. “His contribution to our channel and our country will resonate for many years.”

The news of Shine’s ousting was first reported by New York Magazine, and comes just two weeks after O’Reilly was let go from the network following a New York Times report that he and the network paid millions of dollars to women who accused the evening host of sexual harassment. That report led to public outcry, protests outside of Fox News and advertisers fleeing his show. Shine was named in some lawsuits for not taking action or trying to cover up allegations of sexual harassment. He has denied wrongdoing.

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Shine’s departure is the latest high-ranking shakeup at the network which has been in turmoil since last summer, when former anchor Gretchen Carlson sued Ailes, alleging sexual harassment. She settled with the network for $20 million and Ailes was pushed out after outside investigators found more allegations of sexual harassment by other women.

Shine and Abernethy were named co-presidents shortly after, and were seen by many in the network as stabilizing forces. But several inside the network and media observers wondered if Murdoch and his two sons, James and Lachlan, were committed to cultivating a new workplace culture at Fox New, why many of the senior executives who worked closely under Ailes were still in place.

Since Ailes' ouster, high-profile anchors Megyn Kelly and Greta Van Susteren left for NBC and the primetime lineup was reworked.

Fox News parent company 21st Century Fox faces an important test as they try to take complete ownership of the Sky network. In order to complete that takeover, the company needs to pass a broad "fit and proper" test by the British Office of Communications, which approves such deals. That decision is expected to come down on June 20.

The news of Shine's departure was met with some shock at the network, but others said they saw the writing on the wall, citing Fox News anchor Sean Hannity's cryptic tweets from last week indicating that a "high up” person inside Fox is trying to “get an innocent person fired,” along with the hashtag “#IStandWithShine”.

Now, those same observers say Monday’s news is a clear indication the Murdochs are serious about changing the culture and, possibly, cleaning house. But it's not clear when or whether that housecleaning will actually take place. For now, the executives elevated are all long-time Fox News employees who worked closely with Ailes, including Abernethy, Scott and Wallace.

"This is so bizarre," one insider said, wondering why the company "keeps doing these incremental changes. It's hurting the company."

Scott, observers note, is named in two lawsuits against the network that allege she was aware of sexual harassment allegations at Fox News but did not act.

Another insider said the news and all the changes were leaving employees distressed, as they constantly checked Fox News chronicler Gabriel Sherman's Twitter feed for news.

"It's a new era. No one knows what will happen!" a separate on-air personality said via text.



Now many eyes are turning to Hannity, who is personally close to Shine and helped bring him to the network, by recommending him to Ailes more than 20 years ago. In those tweets last week, Hannity indicated that if Shine were to leave, it would be "the total end of the FNC as we know it. Done."

But as of Monday night, Hannity denied he was trying to negotiate an exit.

Alex Weprin contributed to this report.