Murdoch's British newspaper chief to leave company
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Buy SPH photosNEW YORK (AFP) - Tycoon Rupert Murdoch's top newspaper lieutenant in Britain is to leave his post at the end of the year, it was announced on Sunday, heralding the start of a major shake-up at parent company News Corporation.
The sudden departure of Mr Tom Mockridge, chief executive since July 2011 of News International, which encompasses The Sun, The Times, and The Sunday Times in London, was made public by Murdoch himself.
It sets the stage for a restructuring of News Corporation into two separate divisions with a publishing arm controlling newspapers and an entertainment business controlling the company's television and film interests.
That recently announced move came in the wake of heavy criticism, including from shareholders, about the company's handling of a phone hacking scandal that erupted in Mr Murdoch's media empire in Britain.
