FOX News Media names Bernard T. Gugar as general counsel and executive vice president of Corporate Development, announced its CEO Suzanne Scott, to whom he will report. Mr. Gugar will begin his new role effective immediately.
In making the announcement today, Ms. Scott said, “We are pleased to welcome Bernard to the FOX News Media team. His extensive expertise and highly accomplished background will add immeasurable value to our thriving multiplatform brand.”
Mr. Gugar added, “I am excited to join one of the most influential news operations in the world and look forward to utilizing my experience spanning media, law and technology to help FOX News Media grow, evolve and develop a diversified digital footprint.”
Mr. Gugar joins the network from Google, where he served as the U.S. Head of Industries for Google Cloud’s Deal Pursuit Organization. In his role, Mr. Gugar led a team that drives Goggle Cloud’s most strategic and complex transactions across several industry sectors. Prior to that, Mr. Gugar provided his skills and background to the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Booth School of Business, where he guided tech entrepreneurs spanning digital media, fintech, healthcare, artificial intelligence and E-commerce industries in developing and monetizing their business ventures.
Previously, Mr. Gugar served as the Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Oprah Winfrey’s privately-held global media company, Harpo, Inc., where he worked from 2007 to 2015. In his role, Mr. Gugar headed the legal department, overseeing negotiation of all company business transactions, contracts and licensing arrangements, as well as managing all litigation, corporate governance procedures, intellectual property and labor matters.
Mr. Gugar began his career at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett as an associate in the corporate group, after which he moved to Bear Stearns & Co. where he served as a Vice President within the Investment Banking Division. A graduate of Wesleyan University with a dual degree in psychology and American studies, Mr. Gugar received his J.D. from Columbia University School of Law.
FOX News Media operates the FOX News Channel (FNC), FOX Business Network (FBN), FOX News Digital, FOX News Audio, FOX News Books, the direct-to-consumer digital streaming services FOX Nation and FOX News International, and the recently announced AVOD platform FOX Weather. Currently the number one network in all of cable, FNC has also been the most watched television news channel for 19 consecutive years, while FBN currently ranks among the top business channels on cable. Owned by FOX Corporation, FOX News Media reaches 200 million people each month.