James Murdoch Steps Down As BSkyB Chairman

James Murdoch has resigned as chief executive
and chairman at BSkyB.
(photo: Miguel Villagran/Getty Images)

By Dan Sabbagh and Dominic Rushe, Guardian UK

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