James Murdoch steps down as executive chairman of News International

James Murdoch, the younger son of media moghul Rupert Murdoch, has given up his position as executive chairman of News International, according to parent company News Corp.

James would continue as deputy chief operating officer of News Corp and would focus on its international TV business, the company said in a statement.

James, widely believed to the natural claimant for News Corp's top job, has been under pressure in Britain since last summer after the phone-hacking scandal erupted at the unit under his watch.

Chief executive of News International, Tom Mockridge, would continue in his post and report to News Corp president Chase Carey.

According to News Corp chairman Rupert Murdoch's statement, his son would still play a key role at the company.

He said with his move to New York, James would assume a variety of essential corporate leadership mandates, with particular focus on the important pay-TV businesses and wider international operations.