Suzanne Scott

American University identifies Scott as a 1988 BA graduate of its School of Public Affairs. Her official Fox biography identifies political science as her field of study.⁠[4][5]

A New Jersey native, Scott recalled in her Hall of Fame interview working at a law firm after college before joining CNBC as Chet Collier’s executive assistant. She described Collier as a professional mentor.⁠[6]

In April 1996, Scott joined the developing Fox News operation as a programming assistant and became a member of its launch team.⁠[5]

From 2002 to 2005, she worked as associate producer, producer and senior producer of On the Record with Greta Van Susteren, becoming an executive producer in 2005. She advanced to programming vice president in 2007, senior vice president of programming and development in 2009, and executive vice president in 2016.⁠[7]

A dispute involving former host Andrea Tantaros entered arbitration in 2016, encompassing allegations of sexual harassment, retaliation and interference with a business expectancy, alongside Fox’s contract claim. A 2026 court order includes Scott among the Fox parties seeking confirmation of the award. The different claims and parties do not establish that a court found Scott personally committed every alleged act.⁠[8]

On May 1, 2017, Fox News announced Bill Shine’s resignation as co-president, Scott’s promotion to president of programming and Jay Wallace’s promotion to president of news. Jack Abernethy remained co-president. Scott’s appointment was specifically to programming leadership.⁠[3]

On May 17, 2018, Scott became CEO overseeing Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network, the organization’s first female CEO. She initially reported to Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch, while Jay Wallace oversaw news and editorial management.⁠[7][5]

Expansion during her tenure included Fox Nation in 2018, Fox News International and Fox News Books in 2020, and Fox Weather in 2021, extending the television brand into subscriptions, publishing and streaming weather coverage.⁠[9][10][11][1]

At the May 9, 2019 investor day, Scott presented live coverage, audience relationships and distribution across platforms as foundations for growth. She emphasized digital audio and subscriptions alongside affiliate fees and advertising, arguing that reuse of existing journalism teams and infrastructure controlled expansion costs. She also described responsibility for the overall profit-and-loss account. These were her business judgments presented to investors at the time.⁠[12]

Fox’s 2021 renewal announcement credited Scott’s tenure with an expanded human-resources team, quarterly employee meetings and mentoring, and said women made up more than half the executive team. It also reported Great Place to Work certification in September 2020. These were company statements about workplace changes, distinct from judicial outcomes in employment disputes.⁠[13]

On February 9, 2021, Fox Corporation announced a new multiyear agreement retaining Scott as Fox News Media CEO, reporting to Lachlan Murdoch. The announcement did not disclose a precise term or compensation.⁠[13]

On August 11, 2022, Scott announced Shannon Bream as host of Fox News Sunday from September 11, the first woman in that role in the program’s 26-year history. A September 21 announcement confirmed her debut and named Trace Gallagher to succeed her on Fox News @ Night, illustrating Scott’s role in managing the on-air lineup.⁠[14][15]

Dominion sued Fox News Network and Fox Corporation over 2020 election coverage. The court’s record included Scott’s editorial communications with the Murdochs. Dominion argued actual malice in part from executives, including Scott, disbelieving election allegations while broadcasts continued. Fox contested the individuals’ control of and responsibility for particular statements and denied that the legal standard was met. Scott was not a named defendant in these consolidated cases.⁠[16]

On March 31, the Delaware court found the challenged statements concerning Dominion and the 2020 election false and granted Dominion summary judgment on falsity. It found material disputes over actual malice and individual responsibility requiring a jury, and denied summary judgment on that element. The ruling did not establish Scott’s personal liability for defamation.⁠[16]

Fox Corporation disclosed that it and Fox News Network agreed on April 18 to settle the Dominion litigation for $787.5 million. Fox acknowledged the court’s findings that certain statements about Dominion were false. This was a corporate civil settlement, not a jury verdict or evidence that Scott personally paid that amount.⁠[17]

Scott joined NCTA’s board as an At-Large Programmer Director in an appointment effective November 29, 2023. The association announced it on December 4, and its board directory continued to list her when checked for this entry.⁠[18][19]

On July 15, 2025, Fox announced a new-media expansion including a licensing agreement for the Ruthless podcast. Porter Berry added new-media responsibilities to his digital remit, reporting to Scott and Jay Wallace across digital, social, opinion podcasts and AI-tool strategy. Scott presented the expansion as a response to changing consumption. The licensing arrangement was not an acquisition of the podcast.⁠[2]

A July 28, 2026 federal order recounted that arbitrators had dismissed Tantaros’s claims with prejudice in a February 7, 2025 decision titled an Interim Award. Judicial proceedings over that award remained unresolved. The judge treated her filings as a timely vacatur request, reserved decision on both confirmation and vacatur, and stayed the case pending a related appeal. The order did not finally adjudicate Scott’s personal liability.⁠[8]

Scott was selected for the 2026 Broadcasting + Cable Hall of Fame. In its accompanying interview, she described an approach combining attention to detail with the broader business and continual adjustment to change. This account adds her own perspective to the move from program production into media management.⁠[6]

On October 5, 2026, Scott announced that Fox News Media had hired former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt as a contributor, scheduled to provide political analysis and commentary across platforms beginning November 1. At this entry’s October verification, that starting date was still in the future.⁠[20]