Mockridge to take on Heatley's role at Sky

By SIMON HENDERY and NZPA

High-flying News Corp executive Tom Mockridge will head the Sky TV board after the sudden departure of the pay television channel's chairman and co-founder, Craig Heatley.

The move follows Mr Mockridge's appointment as chief executive of Sky's 47 per cent shareholder, Independent Newspapers, and adds fuel to speculation that the publisher may merge with Sky.

It also appears to crystallise INL's game plan after the death of chief executive Mike Robson in December.

Mr Mockridge is now in a strong position to steer a Sky-INL merger, while former acting chief executive Rick Neville runs INL's newspaper and magazine interests. An integrated Sky operation could then be merged into INL shareholder Rupert Murdoch's Sky Global Networks.

Mr Heatley also resigned his seat on the INL board yesterday and his chairmanship of eVentures.

He said he was also quitting positions on several private companies, including Walker Wireless.

Mr Heatley said he planned to spend a year travelling with his family across Canada, the United States and Europe.

It was the family's last chance to travel before his oldest son started high school next year. He had employed a tutor to travel with them so his three children's education would continue.

The reshuffles were announced after the sharemarket's close yesterday. At the end of trading, Sky shares were up 2c at $3.67 and shares in INL were up 1c at $3.73.