Sky Italia names Mockridge replacement

News Corp has appointed a new chief executive for Italian pay TV operator Sky Italia. Andrea Zappia will replace former CEO Tom Mockridge who last month took over the company’s UK newspaper division in the wake of the News of the World phone hacking scandal.

Zappia joins Sky Italia from UK pay TV operator BSkyB where he was customer group managing director, having joined the company that is 39% owned by News Corp in February 2010. Before joining Sky, Zappia spent seven years in senior roles at Sky Italia.

Mockridge left Sky Italia last month to replace Rebekah Brooks as CEO of News International. She resigned following allegations of phone hacking at the company’s News of the World tabloid.