Fuji Media Heavyweight Hieda to Step Down

Tokyo, March 27 (Jiji Press)--Fuji Media Holdings Inc., parent of scandal-embattled Fuji Television Network Inc., said Thursday that Hisashi Hieda will step down as the two firms' executive managing adviser.

The departure of Hieda, who has served as a director for over 40 years and has strong sway in the group, is aimed at regaining public trust lost due to its mishandling of a sex scandal involving former TV star Masahiro Nakai.

Hieda's resignation will take effect Thursday for Fuji TV and on the day of a June shareholders' meeting for Fuji Media. Fuji Media President Osamu Kanemitsu told reporters that Hieda intends to resign as chief of the Fuji Sankei media group as well.

Following Hieda's departure, Kanemitsu will become the parent's chairman without representation rights, while Executive Vice President Kenji Shimizu, who is also Fuji TV president, will succeed Kanemitsu in June. Fuji TV Vice Chairman Ryunosuke Endo will step down.

Additionally, 10 Fuji Media directors and 16 Fuji TV directors will step down, while a total of 12 people will newly become directors. The Fuji Media board will shrink from 15 people to 11, while the Fuji TV board will shrink from 20 people to 10.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]