Who is Siobhan McKenna? The ‘irreplaceable’ former Murdoch aide given a top diplomatic posting
News Source
•Mon, 21 Sep 2026 05:57:57 GMT
📰 What Happened
Siobhan McKenna will be Australia's next consul general in New York. She is a former News Corp executive and a close adviser to Lachlan Murdoch. She is due to start early in 2027.
McKenna chairs Australia Post and has chaired NBN Co. She spent two decades at News Corp, where she ran its broadcasting arm, including Foxtel and Sky News Australia.
Analysts called the appointment a surprise, because she is not a traditional Labor figure. Media analyst Peter Cox said it would not have happened unless the government had a good relationship with her.
🔍 The Backstory
US court documents showed McKenna helped design a plan to change the Murdoch family trust. The plan, called Project Family Harmony, aimed to give Lachlan Murdoch sole control after Rupert Murdoch's death.
A Nevada probate commissioner said in 2024 that the plan was an attempt to "stack the deck" in Lachlan's favour. The effort failed, and the family fight ended with a financial deal in 2025.
McKenna left News Corp late last year, shortly after the company sold its controlling stake in Foxtel. Global chief executive Robert Thomson told staff the departure was her own choice and called her "irreplaceable".
🎯 Why It Matters
The posting puts a media power player in America's biggest business city. It also shows how tightly Australia's political and media worlds are still linked.
Siobhan McKenna will be Australia's next consul general in New York. She is a former News Corp executive and a close adviser to Lachlan Murdoch. She is due to start early in 2027.
McKenna chairs Australia Post and has chaired NBN Co. She spent two decades at News Corp, where she ran its broadcasting arm, including Foxtel and Sky News Australia.
Analysts called the appointment a surprise, because she is not a traditional Labor figure. Media analyst Peter Cox said it would not have happened unless the government had a good relationship with her.
US court documents showed McKenna helped design a plan to change the Murdoch family trust. The plan, called Project Family Harmony, aimed to give Lachlan Murdoch sole control after Rupert Murdoch's death.
A Nevada probate commissioner said in 2024 that the plan was an attempt to "stack the deck" in Lachlan's favour. The effort failed, and the family fight ended with a financial deal in 2025.
McKenna left News Corp late last year, shortly after the company sold its controlling stake in Foxtel. Global chief executive Robert Thomson told staff the departure was her own choice and called her "irreplaceable".
The posting puts a media power player in America's biggest business city. It also shows how tightly Australia's political and media worlds are still linked.