NEW YORK—Under-fire media conglomerate News Corporation has consolidated its global government affairs activities under Michael Regan, executive vice president of government affairs. Regan has run the company’s Washington, DC, operations since 2001.

As part of the new structure, Frederic Michel is being promoted to the newly-created role of senior vice president of government affairs and public policy for Europe. Heading the company’s new Brussels office, Michel will lead regulatory and public policy efforts for News Corporation and its portfolio of businesses across Europe, reporting to Regan.

Prior to joining News Corporation, Michel was founding director of the international think tank Policy Network.

Joe Welch, senior vice president of government affairs for Asia, will report to Regan. Welch, who will continue to be based in Hong Kong, has been with the company since 2005 and oversees public policy and regulatory advocacy for News Corp. business units across the region. Previously, he served as MCI WorldCom’s Asia director of government affairs and earlier was an attorney at the Federal Communications Commission in Washington, DC.

According to James Murdoch, deputy chief operating officer and chairman and CEO of international, “This move will ensure that we have a clear, coordinated focus on legislative and regulatory issues across all the territories in which we operate, led by a very experienced team. It makes perfect sense as we continue to navigate the challenges facing the media industry on a global scale.”

The reorganization of government affairs is the latest in a series of changes to News Corp’s various communications disciplines, including the recently announced departure of group director of strategy and corporate affairs Matthew Anderson.