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Hartenstein Retires as DirecTV Vice Chair

Dec 2, 2004  •  Post A Comment

Satellite TV pioneer Eddy Hartenstein is retiring as vice chairman of DirecTV, effective Dec. 31, the company said today.

Mr. Hartenstein was named president of DirecTV in 1990 by the Hughes Aircraft Co., a division of General Motors. He was chairman and CEO of the company when GM sold its interest in the DBS company to News Corp. last year.

“As DirecTV approaches the one-year anniversary of the transformation from a GM subsidiary into the News Corp. family of companies, the transition process is ahead of schedule,” Mr. Hartenstein said. “Management is in great hands, and I look forward to retirement and watching the continued growth and innovation of DirecTV as its most ardent customer.”

Mr. Hartenstein’s “expertise and counsel have been critical to our progress during the last year,” said Chase Carey, president and CEO of The DirecTV Group.” His leadership of DirecTV from its infancy through the complicated exit of GM has been invaluable.”