From the WSJ:

News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch named Wall Street Journal Publisher Robert Thomson as the paper's new managing editor, succeeding Marcus Brauchli, who left under pressure last month.

Mr. Thomson will also take the title of editor in chief of Dow Jones, the News Corp. unit that publishes the Journal, according to a statement from Dow Jones.

Howard Kurtz notes...

Les Hinton, the chief executive of Dow Jones, who is also assuming Thomson's role of publisher, said in a statement that "in hindsight, we recognize it would have more been appropriate to have advised the committee in advance of reaching an agreement with Mr. Brauchli. We have apologized to the committee members and undertaken that in future we will consult with it and seek approval of the committee before taking any action" involving a top editor's duties or departure.

Michael Calderone says:

Brauchli may have been the quintessential Journal reporter and editor, but to run a Murdoch paper you have to be closely aligned with the man in charge. And Thomson has been for years, most recently as editor of Murdoch's London paper.

Thomson wrote a note to staffers, obtained by FishbowlDC:

Dear All,

You will know by now that I have been named Managing Editor of The Wall Street Journal and Editor-in-Chief of Dow Jones Newswires. I am deeply honored by this appointment and look forward to working closely with you all. This is a news operation with enormous potential, both in the United States and around the world. I have no doubt that, together, we will realize that potential.

Yours,

Robert