Newscorp’s Murdoch to quit GSK

News Corp executive James Murdoch, beset by the phone-hacking scandal at the former News of the World tabloid, is quitting the board of GlaxoSmithKline to focus on his new role in the US, the drugs giant revealed yesterday.

Murdoch, son of News Corp chief Rupert Murdoch, was promoted last March to be the group’s deputy chief operating officer and head of its international operations.

But his relocation to the New York HQ was delayed by the scandal at the now-defunct tabloid, which fell within his previous remit as chief executive for Europe and Asia.

GlaxoSmithKline said yesterday: “James has taken this decision to focus on his current duties as non-executive chairman of BSkyB, and following his decision to re-locate to the United States, as chairman and chief executive international of News Corporation.”

Murdoch will not stand for re-election at this year’s shareholder meeting in May, GSK added.

Murdoch Jnr was paid £98,000 in shares for serving on GSK’s board in 2010.

Murdoch, 39, also recently quit the boards of the publishing units within News Corp’s British newspaper arm, including the Times, Sunday Times and Sun.

The News of the World scandal is seen as having cast doubt on his suitability to continue as chairman of satellite broadcaster BSkyB, a company he previously ran and in which News Corp owns 39 per cent.

BSkyB’s interim results are next Tuesday.