News

Murdoch resigns from string of News Corp boards

News Corporation chairman and chief executive Rupert Murdoch has resigned from a number of News Corp subsidiary boards in the UK and the US.

Speaking on behalf of News Corp’s British arm News International, spokeswoman Daisy Dunlop confirmed that Murdoch has stepped down as director of NI Group, Times Newspaper Holdings and News Corp Investments in the UK.

It is not immediately clear which of the US boards Murdoch has left. According to British newspaper, The Telegraph, which first reported the news, those details have not yet been disclosed by the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

According to a News International statement, the move is “nothing more than a corporate housecleaning exercise prior to the company split”.

The company split refers to Murdoch’s announcement last month that he was to spin off News Corp’s entertainment and publishing group into two separate entities in order to “greater align strategic priorities”, according to Murdoch.

Under the proposed changes, Murdoch will chair both companies and remain as chief executive of the media and entertainment company.

According to widespread reports, the move suggests that Murdoch could be distancing himself from News International and possibly preparing to sell the newspaper group, following the widespread phone-hacking scandal last year that led to the closure of its top-selling tabloid the News of the World. 

Earlier this year, a Commons culture, media and sport select committee report accused Murdoch of exhibiting wilful blindness in relation to the phone hacking activities and deemed him “unfit” to lead a major international corporation.

Jenni Baker, London