In a sudden decision, Roger Ailes quit as Fox News CEO. He was with the company for 20 years. His decision to leave the news giant is done in the middle of a sexual harassment scandal.
Twentieth Century Fox, the parent company of Fox News, released a statement this week. Rupert Murdoch, one of the executives from the parent company, will replace as acting CEO and chairman.
The announcement of Alies' resignation came two weeks after Gretchen Carlson's filing of a sexual harassment case against him. Carlson was a former news anchor of Fox News.
Carlson is blaming Alies for making advances at her while she was with Fox. The anchorwoman said that because she refused to respond to his advances, Ailes is sabotaging her career.
When Fox called for an investigation, a law firm was hired. The investigators discovered that there were inappropriate practices against women in the Fox workplace.
Ailes' resignation letter, however, did not mention the sexual assault case. He said that he is proud to have built Fox News and Fox Business Channels into huge news organizations, which pleased their viewers and shareholders.
His letter stated, "I take particular pride in the role that I have played advancing the careers of the many women I have promoted to executive and on-air positions."
The ex-CEO will receive an exit package worth $40 million. He also signed a non-compete clause that prohibits him to work with any entity in the field of video.
Ailes was an adviser to President Nixon, President H.W. Bush and President Ronald Raegan. His position as Fox CEO was a victory for the Republican party's viewership.
Six years after being appointed as CEO, Fox News overtook CNN and became the first in the cable news service networks. His departure from the network is regarded as "losing a parent" by John Klein, former president of CNN.
