John C. Malone to transition to Chairman Emeritus of Liberty Global
Liberty Global has announced that John C. Malone, Chairman of Liberty Global’s board of directors, will step down from the Board effective January 1, 2026 and transition to Chairman Emeritus.
In this capacity, John will continue to provide active counsel and strategic insight to Liberty Global and may attend board meetings, but will not have a formal vote on Board matters.
Mike Fries, Liberty Global’s Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman, will succeed John as Chairman of the Board. Mike has served as CEO since the Company’s formation in 2005 and was a co-founder of its predecessor more than 35 years ago. He also currently serves as Chairman of Liberty Latin America Ltd. and Sunrise Communications AG, two previous spin-offs of Liberty Global.
John commented: “Serving as Chairman of Liberty Global over the past 20 years has been a tremendous journey. From our early investments to the creation of Liberty Global and the many chapters that followed, the return to long-term shareholders has been outstanding — and getting there has been, like the industry itself, never dull and a lot of fun.”
“I’ve often said that if you live long enough you get to see everything twice and it feels like we’ve done just that at Liberty Global — with investments across 50 countries, more than $200 billion in M&A, and a great company and culture. I’m particularly proud of how Mike and the team have navigated the profound changes in technology and market dynamics over that time — reshaping the portfolio, prioritizing national scale, and leading the way in digital television, gigabit broadband and fixed-mobile convergence.”
“I have complete confidence in Mike to continue guiding the company forward, as he’s done over the past two decades. He and I have always seen eye-to-eye on how best to create value for shareholders, and I will remain one of Liberty Global’s largest. He also has the support of a strong and engaged Board that I look forward to staying close to — both professionally and personally. I’m not retiring from business, but I am looking to reduce travel and time commitments. This transition will allow me to do so while ensuring continuity for the company and its stakeholders.”
Mike added: “My working relationship with John spans more than three decades, beginning when he first invested in our small but ambitious international cable operation. Our partnership since then — and especially over the past 20 years during his tenure as Chairman of Liberty Global — has been the most rewarding experience of my professional career.
“I often remind my team that we stand on the shoulders of giants in this industry, and none broader than John’s. His extraordinary wisdom and strategic guidance have been invaluable and, personally, I could not have asked for a better mentor and friend. On behalf of our Board, our 30,000 employees and our global network of customers, suppliers and partners, I want to thank John for his tremendous contributions to Liberty Global and for agreeing to remain engaged as we continue to unlock value for shareholders.”
