Thaindian News

London, Nov 23 (IANS) Murdoch media empire heir James Murdoch resigned Wednesday from the boards of News International’s two newspaper companies — The Sun and The Times.

Murdoch is no longer a director of Times Newspapers Limited or News Group Newspapers (NGN), the Daily Mail reported, adding he will remain the executive chairman of News International and chairman of British Sky Broadcasting Group (BSkyB), as well as deputy chief operating officer of parent company News Corporation.

He had been on the board of NGN, which owns The Sun and used to publish the News of the World and Times newspapers since taking over News International in 2007.

As well as leaving those posts, he has resigned as a director of subsidiary company News International Holdings Ltd, according to Companies House filings seen by the Evening Standard.

But James Murdoch still remains on The Times’ editorial board, which was set up when his father Rupert Murdoch bought the paper.

A News International spokesman reportedly said: “James doesn’t step back from NI. He remains chairman.” He has been replaced on both newspaper boards by Tom Mockridge, the new chief executive of NI.

As per records at Companies House, Murdoch stepped down from the boards of News Group Newspapers Limited, publisher of The Sun, and Times Newspapers Limited in September, the BBC reported.

The resignatio’s news came ahead of a key BSkyB shareholder meeting amid calls that he resign from the company.

On Nov 10, Murdoch appeared for the second time before British MPs regarding phone-hacking at the News of the World (NoW). He had appeared before the parliamentary committee with his father in July.