4 Apr 2012

Murdoch leaves BSkyB

8:47 am on 4 April 2012

James Murdoch has resigned his role as chairman of British satellite broadcaster BSkyB.

He said in a statement that he did not want BSkyB to be undermined by matters outside this company.

The BBC reports that it was Mr Murdoch's own decision to leave.

In February, he stepped down as chairman of News International, publisher of the News of the World which was closed after a hacking scandal was revealed.

His father Rupert founded its parent company, News Corporation.

It was announced last month that Mr Murdoch had moved to New York to work on News Corp's pay-TV businesses around the world.

Nicholas Ferguson, who has been with the company since 2004, will take over as chairman of BSkyB.

He was the senior independent non-executive director and deputy chairman.