James Murdoch resigns as News Intl executive chair

Originally published: February 29, 2012 9:22 AM

Photo credit: AP | FILE - This is a July 19, 2011 file photo of James Murdoch, left, and Rupert Murdoch giving evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee in the House of Commons in central London on the News of the World phone-hacking scandal. Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. says James Murdoch is stepping down as executive chairman of the company's U.K. newspaper arm. News Corp. said Wednesday Feb. 29, 2012 James Murdoch has relinquished his position at News International to focus on the company's international TV business. (AP Photo/PA, File) UNITED KINGDOM OUT

LONDON - (AP) -- James Murdoch, the executive at the epicenter of the phone-hacking scandal at his father's British newspapers, is stepping down as executive chairman of News Corp.'s U.K. newspaper arm.

News Corp. said in a statement Wednesday that James, the youngest son of 80-year-old media mogul Rupert Murdoch, has relinquished his position at News International to concentrate on expanding the company's television business.

The 39-year-old James will still remain deputy chief operating officer of News Corp. but the move plucks the one-time heir apparent to his father's global empire away from a firestorm over his credibility and his role in Britain's expanding phone-hacking scandal. 

Continue Reading: http://www.newsday.com/business/james-murdoch-resigns-as-news-intl-executive-chair-1.3566496