FYI The Guardian has reported in the last 20 minutes the above news.I am posting to get the news out and suggest a dot needing connecting, as I must run to an appointment and will delete afterwards if others can take what may be a ball very much worth running with.
Update: Please move to ceeb's diary Ceeb's diary is here
Guardian on RM stepping down numerous companies.
In an email sent on Saturday, staff at The Times, The Sunday Times and The Sun were told that Murdoch remained "fully committed" as chairman despite relinquishing positions on a number of UK boards, including NI Group. Staff were informed ... in an email – seen by the Guardian – that was sent out on Saturday. It states that the decision "is part of the preparation of the business for the upcoming restructure into two companies".
Curious minds will want to know if there a connection between this resignation and the disclosure on Wednesday in the High Court in London of the existence of an email written by a News International executive and described as ''sent by an executive whose identity you know'' of that refers to the phone hacking of a ''well-known individual.''
For more on that disclosure, see intrepid cartoonist reporter and Kog' diary linked below Ericlewis0
The Guardian continues:
In a bid to reassure employees amid swirling rumours of a possible sell-off, it adds: "[Murdoch] remains fully committed to our business as chairman of what will become the largest newspaper and digital group in the world and we look forward to seeing him in London over the Olympic Games."
The string of board resignations comes as the 81-year-old faces renewed pressure to resign as chairman of News Corp at the group's annual general meeting later this year.
Last week it was revealed that 18 major shareholders including Connecticut's state pension fund and the UK's Legal & General have now signed a letter calling for Murdoch to step down from the company he has spent 60 years creating