Times of London Editor Neil to Anchor New Fox Program

News Corp. Chief Executive Rupert Murdoch has tapped Andrew Neil, editor of the Sunday Times of London, to develop and anchor a new current affairs program for the Fox TV network.

The move appears to signal that Neil, 44, will play a larger role in Murdoch’s plans to compete more aggressively in the news arena against ABC, NBC and CBS.

Neil will relocate to New York to head development of a new “hard-hitting” current affairs program that Fox plans to put on after its NFL football broadcast. In many markets, the show could go head-to-head with “60 Minutes” on CBS.

In recruiting Neil, Murdoch continues to bring in trusted News Corp. executives and assign them key posts in the United States. A pugnacious Glaswegian, Neil has been editor of the Sunday Times since 1983, during which it achieved record circulation and advertising levels.

Under Neil’s editorship, the Sunday Times pioneered what became known as “quality pop” journalism--a mix of investigative reporting combined with lifestyle features that struck a middle ground between the highbrow and popular journalism.

“During my time, the Sunday Times has been at the center of every major controversy in Britain,” Neil said. “These are the kind of journalistic values I want to reproduce at Fox.”

Insiders said Neil had grown restless after 11 years as editor of the Sunday Times--considered one of the top jobs on Fleet Street--and was looking for new challenges. He recently was up for anchor of “Question Time,” the BBC’s popular weekly public affairs show.

Neil is not the only News Corp. official Murdoch appears interested in getting more involved at Fox. Sam Chisholm, a News Corp. director who oversees Star TV, has recently been spending time at Fox and telling associates he will be moving to Los Angeles.

While Fox executives deny there are any plans for Chisholm to move to the studio, a source close to Murdoch said he had recently considered such a plan but decided against it.

Platinum Software Corp. announced the appointments of Carmelo J. Santoro as chief executive and Michael J. Simmons as chief financial officer of the Irvine-based company.

The two positions were vacated April 18 by the resignations of former CEO Gerald Blackie and former CFO Jon Erickson.

Santoro, who has been serving as interim CEO, has served on Platinum’s board since April, 1993.

Before joining Platinum, Simmons was executive vice president and chief financial and administrative officers of Dynasty Classics Corp.

Mattel Inc. said it has named James DeRose president of Mattel USA.

The position had been vacant since January, 1993, when David Mauer resigned. Mauer is now chief executive of Riddell Sports Inc., a maker of football helmets.