Bill Shine has resigned as co-president of Fox News, after less than a year in the job.
Shine had reportedly become an unpopular figure at the network in recent weeks, following the ousting of Bill O’Reilly.
Women were reportedly planning to circulate a petition calling for Shine to be fired before he stepped down Monday, a source told New York Magazine.
This comes exactly a week after Shine had a lunch meeting with Rupert Murdoch, the owner of Fox News’ parent company, 21st Century Fox, and his co-president, Jack Abernethy.
Shine was promoted to the position of co-president last August, after longtime president Roger Ailes resigned amid a sex scandal.
Since then, Shine has had to deal with the loss of Megyn Kelly to rival NBC News, and a new sex scandal involving anchor Bill O’Reilly.
O’Reilly was forced out of his job last month, while on vacation.
Shine reportedly advocated to keep O’Reilly, against those gunning for him to go – Murdoch’s sons Lachlan and James.
Shine’s position will now be split between two longtime Fox News executives.
Suzanne Scott, Fox’s executive vice president for programming and development, will now be president of programming, while Jay Wallace, EVP of news and editorial, will be president of news.
‘Suzanne and Jay are recognized industry leaders. 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,’ Rupert Murdoch said in a prepared statement.
