James Murdoch is resigning as executive chairman at News International, the UK publishing arm of his father's News Corp, the company announced today. Murdoch will instead focus on News Corp's international TV business, the AP reports, noting that the younger Murdoch has faced scrutiny during the phone hacking scandal involving News Corp properties. Murdoch had previously relocated to News Corp's New York headquarters.
"We are all grateful for James' leadership at News International and across Europe and Asia, where he has made lasting contributions to the group's strategy in paid digital content and its efforts to improve and enhance governance programs," the elder Murdoch said in a statement acquired by The Street. "He has demonstrated leadership and continues to create great value at Star TV, Sky Deutschland, Sky Italia, and BSkyB. Now that he has moved to New York, James will continue to assume a variety of essential corporate leadership mandates, with particular focus on important pay-TV businesses and broader international operations." (More News Corp stories.)