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| James Murdoch has resigned as chief executive and chairman at BSkyB. (photo: Miguel Villagran/Getty Images) |
03 April 12
Rupert Murdoch's son quits as chairman of UK pay-tv giant to avoid becoming a 'lightning rod' for the phone-hacking scandal.
ames
Murdoch, once thought of as corporate heir apparent to his father
Rupert, is stepping down as chairman of BSkyB after concluding it would
be too damaging to stay on and risk a critical verdict from a British
parliamentary inquiry into phone hacking.
The 39-year-old, who has been chief executive and then
chairman since 2003, said he was leaving the company "as attention
continues to be paid to past events at News International", News
Corporation's scandal-hit UK newspaper division.
By stepping down, it will mean that no Murdoch occupies a top position at the satellite broadcaster for the first time in years.
Murdoch's decision to quit at this point has surprised
friends, given that only a few weeks earlier he resolved to stay on at
Sky, despite relocating to New York and having given up his job as
executive chairman of News International.
In a statement, the board of BSkyB, which is
controlled by News Corporation through a 39.1% stake, said James Murdoch
would continue as a non-executive director. He will be succeeded by
Nicholas Ferguson. READ MORE
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