Ken Cowley, the former CEO of News Limited for 27 years, has passed away.
In his decades-long tenure with the company, he also served as chairman, retiring from the News Corp board after 32 years in 2011.
In the later stages of his career, Cowley served as chairman of Ansett, PMP and R.M. Williams (a business he also once owned), as well as being a director of the Commonwealth Bank.
Rupert Murdoch, News Corp executive chairman: "It is with deep regret that I've learned of Ken Cowley's passing.
"Ken was one of Australia's most outstanding executives. His leadership was integral to News Corp's growth from a small publisher to Australia's finest media company.
"In Ken's long association with News over many decades, I admired his loyalty, integrity and business leadership.
"They were exciting and rewarding days building News into a great business and I know that Ken was always immensely proud of the special role he played in the birth of The Australian to then see it become one of the world's best newspapers."
Murdoch's son Lachlan - who serves as News Corp co-chairman - said Cowley was "one of News’ most legendary and successful executives."
"His contribution to Australian journalism and media cannot be understated," he said.
"I will always deeply appreciate his mostly calm and always sage advice to me while I was ‘learning the ropes’ under him 30 years ago! He was both a kind and a tough boss. The best kind to work for.
"Ken's contributions to Australia are many, and we are poorer off without him. He will be missed.”
Michael Miller, the executive chairman of News Corp Australasia: "Australia has lost one of its great newsmen and News executives in Ken Cowley. His leadership of News in Australia for 17 years during a period of significant change helped develop News into a dynamic modern media company.
"If Ken leaves us with one tremendous legacy, it was his leadership strength that ensured The Australian survived its challenging early days to prosper as Australia’s best national news brand and its trusted journalism now rewarded today with the largest audience in its 58-year history."
Matt Cowley, Ken Cowley's son, told 2GB in a family statement: “Thanks for your kind words about my father Ken Cowley. He was not just a magnificent business mind but an amazing loving dad and husband to my mum for 64 years.
“He was my dad, best friend, and just an amazing man to everyone he met.
“Started the Australian newspaper, assisted RM. Williams to build and open the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame and Outback Heritage Centre as well as chairman of Ansett and the Chairman and CEO or News Corporation.
“Most of all he was my and sisters dad and mum, Maureen’s husband. He will be missed by many but remembered fondly."
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