Fox Sports Australia boss Patrick Delany is set to become CEO of Foxtel as the two companies prepare to merge.
Parent company News Corp confirmed Delany would succeed Peter Tonagh at the head of the subscription television company.
With the pending merger between Foxtel and Fox Sports Australia, Tonagh and Delany were in the running for the top job, however confirmation of Tonagh's departure was unexpected.
Stepping into Delany's role at Fox Sports Australia will be current COO Peter Campbell.
“There is no question that Peter Tonagh has been a thoughtful, far-sighted leader and his positive influence will resonate for many years to come,” said News Corp's chief executive Robert Thomson.
“Patrick's astute and innovative leadership of Fox Sports, combined with his broad experience during his nine years at Foxtel, make him the ideal person to take the helm at such a profoundly important moment for Foxtel.”
Delany joined Fox Sports in 2011, having previously worked at Southern Star Entertainment.
He became director of digital at Foxtel in 2002, and in 2005 was appointed Executive Director of Content, Product and Delivery at Foxtel, introducing services such as Foxtel iQ.
Since taking up his role as CEO of Fox Sports Australia in 2011 he has overseen rises in audience numbers, digital footprint and profitability.
In 2013 Foxtel, Fox Sports, and Network Ten secured the broadcast rights to Supercars from 2015 to 2020 in a deal worth $241 million.