Former US Sen. Kelly Ayotte joins Murdoch’s News Corp. board

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - Former New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte is joining the board of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp.

The media company announced Ayotte’s addition to the board Monday.

Murdoch, the company’s CEO, is praising Ayotte’s addition to the board, saying she’ll bring “invaluable leadership and strategic planning skills.” Ayotte says News Corp. plays an “important role” in keeping people informed and delivering value for investors.

Ayotte, a Republican, lost her seat in the U.S. Senate last fall to former Gov. Maggie Hassan, a Democrat. She’s since been helping President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch, through the confirmation process.

Ayotte is replacing Elaine Chao, the new U.S. Secretary of Transportation, on the board.

News Corp. owns newspapers in the U.S., U.K. and Australia, plus the book publisher HarperCollins and other media brands.