James Murdoch resigns as executive chairman, News International

The media conglomerate stated that Murdoch was stepping down from News International following his relocation to company headquarters in New York as deputy chief operating officer.

James Murdoch has resigned as the executive chairman of News International, the British publishing unit of the Rupert Murdoch-owned News Corporation that has been under increasing pressure from a phone-hacking scandal.

Rupert Murdoch, chairman and CEO, News Corporation, says in a statement, "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 programmes."

The media conglomerate stated that James Murdoch was stepping down from News International following his relocation to company headquarters in New York as deputy chief operating officer.

"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," Murdoch says in the statement.

He adds, "He has demonstrated leadership and continues to create great value at STAR TV, Sky Deutschland, Sky Italia and BSkyB."

Meanwhile, Tom Mockridge will continue in his role as chief executive of News International and will report to Chase Carey, president and chief operating officer, News Corp.