News Corp is to relocate its entire London operation, including News UK, to the so-called “Baby Shard” development near London Bridge.
The move, which will begin next year and be completed in early 2015, was announced by chief executive Robert Thomson in an email to staff today.
It will mark the first time that all the group’s London-based businesses – News UK, HarperCollins and Dow Jones – will be based in one location.
In his email, Thomson said: “This is a tangible example of and significant opportunity for the collaborative culture we seek to foster at the new News Corp. It will allow us to realize our core objective as a new company – to work more closely and creatively, and leverage our collective resources.
“I realize this news will generate more practical and logistical questions from our employees in London, and we are now beginning the next phases of planning in partnership with the senior leadership teams across the businesses.”
News UK, which publishes The Sun, The Times and The Sunday Times, will be the first of the businesses to relocate next summer.
The new development, known as The Place and nicknamed The Baby Shard, is in the shadow of The Shard in the redeveloped London Bridge area.
Peter John, Leader of Southwark Council, said, “I am delighted that News Corp will be moving to such an iconic location in Southwark – bringing new jobs and opportunities to this part of London. The move underlines Southwark’s growing reputation as a place to do business and endorses our work as a council to generate real economic growth.”
News UK is currently based in Thomas More Square in Tower Hamlets. HarperCollins is currently in Hammersmith and will use The Place as its London headquarters while keeping offices in Glasgow and Yorkshire. Dow Jones currently has offices in Holborn and the City.
The move presents another break for the past for News International which last month changed its name to News UK.
The Murdoch-owned titles left the City of London in 1986 to move to Wapping in a union-busting move which was linked to the adoption of new production technology.
In 2011 News International moved its titles out of the Wapping estate on Pennington Street into neighbouring Thomas More Square.
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