Fox Corp. Taps Former U.S. Attorney for Nevada as Compliance Chief

Fox Corp. said Nicholas Trutanich, a former U.S. attorney for Nevada, would become the company’s new chief ethics and compliance officer.

Mr. Trutanich’s expertise in gambling regulation was one reason for the appointment, according to the company’s new general counsel. Fox is one of several broadcasters that have made a push into the sports gambling business.

In 2019, the company agreed to buy 4.99% of the online sports-betting company Stars Group for $236 million.

“Nick is an experienced trial lawyer, a proven leader, and an adviser with impeccable integrity,” Fox General Counsel Jeff Taylor said in a statement. “He is an ideal fit for our already strong team, and his expertise in gaming regulation will be invaluable as FOX continues its push into sports betting.”

Fox said Monday that Mr. Taylor, who joined the company as chief litigation counsel in 2019, had been promoted to general counsel alongside the appointment of Mr. Trutanich.

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Mr. Trutanich, who stepped down as Nevada’s U.S. attorney in February, is expected to provide ethics advice, oversee compliance training and investigations, and serve as Fox’s point of contact with law enforcement and regulators, Fox said. Fox Corp. and Wall Street Journal parent News Corp share common ownership.

A Fox spokeswoman declined to comment further on his appointment.

Fox has faced a number of high-profile legal challenges in recent years.

The company’s Fox News division has received regulatory inquiries stemming from allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination, according to a securities disclosure. Fox said in the filing it has resolved many of the harassment and discrimination claims and is contesting other claims in litigation.

It also was sued in February by voting-machine company Smartmatic USA Corp. for what the company alleges were defamatory on-air comments about its products in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election. “We are proud of our 2020 election coverage and will vigorously defend this meritless lawsuit in court,” the network said in a February statement on behalf of Fox News and the Fox hosts named in the complaint.

Last year, two former Fox Sports executives were charged with participating in an alleged scheme to pay millions of dollars in bribes to officials at FIFA, the world soccer federation, in exchange for broadcasting rights. They have pleaded not guilty to the charges. A Fox Sports representative at the time declined to comment on the charges. The company hasn’t been charged with wrongdoing in connection with the FIFA probe.

Mr. Trutanich served in the Nevada attorney general’s office before he was nominated by former President Donald Trump to serve as the federal government’s top law-enforcement official in Nevada.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Trutanich also served as deputy chief of violent and organized crime at the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles.

Mr. Trutanich will report to Mr. Taylor. Mr. Taylor, who will oversee the company’s legal function in his new role, will continue to report to Chief Legal and Policy Officer Viet D. Dinh, the company said.

Write to Dylan Tokar at dylan.tokar@wsj.com

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