Camilla Rhodes leaves News International

by John Reynolds, Media Week 02-Sep-08, 07:00

LONDON - News Magazines chief executive Camilla Rhodes has left the company after a career of 28 years with its owner, News International.

Rhodes, who joined News International in 1980, was most recently chief executive of News Magazines, which is being wound down after incurring a £10m loss during the 12 months to June 2007.

Its closure was a key outcome of a review of News International earlier this year by James Murdoch, chairman and chief executive of News Corp Europe and Asia.

Rhodes, who is married to News International chief operating officer Clive Milner, left News Magazines last week, according to the company.

She has held several high-profile roles with the company, including managing director of The Sun and News of the World, prior to which she was managing director of The Times and The Sunday Times.

News Magazines, which launched in 2005, was the brainchild of Rhodes, as News International looked to establish itself in the magazine publishing industry.

After deciding to close News Magazines, News International is understood to still be considering the future of News Magazines' real-life title Love It!.

Skymag, meanwhile, will over the coming months be taken in-house by BSkyB, the satellite TV group in which News Corporation is the single-biggest shareholder.

The Sunday Times Travel magazine has moved to be published in-house at News International. It is understood that News Magazines managing director Sandy Whetton will remain with the group as publisher of the travel title.

In a statement to Media Week, Murdoch said: "Camilla has been an outstanding executive in senior commercial roles at News Corporation since she joined us in 1980.

"She epitomises the can-do spirit of this company. Her skill and dedication has been an inspiration and she has made an enormous contribution and will be sorely missed."