James Murdoch resigned as a director from the boards of News International’s Sun and Times publishers.
Companies House documents filed in late September, now published, show he left the boards of News Group Newspapers, which used also to comprise now-closed News Of The World, and Times Newspapers.
Evening Standard was first to report. “James Murdoch doesn’t step back from News International. He remains chairman,” News International told the Evening Standard.
The move followed Rebekah Brooks’ replacement as CEO of News International, which comprises the two divisions, by News Corp.’s European TV chief Tom Mockridge.
At around the same time, News Group’s operations managing director, Christopher Longcroft, was added to News Group’s board.
Along with the changes in September, Times Newspapers filed a change of particulars making clear that James Murdoch’s role is now merely his News Corp-level one – deputy chief operating officer, chairman and CEO of international.
BSkyB’s deputy chairman has urged shareholders to retain James Murdoch as chairman of the pay-TV, telco and broadband company.
He survived a protest by News Corp independent shareholders in October and was re-elected.