James Murdoch faces renewed calls to resign from BSkyB and News Corp boards
James Murdoch is facing fresh calls to quit his position on the boards of News Corporation and BSkyB following criticism of his ‘character and conduct’ by Ofcom.
Yesterday the regulator sanctioned Sky as a ‘fit and proper’ broadcaster but did so with the caveat that it harboured serious qualms over the actions of its former chairman.
Murdoch stands accused of failing to adequately deal with the phone hacking imbroglio which engulfed the broadcaster, neglecting his duties to clampdown on wrongdoing under his watch.
In highly critical language Ofcom accused Murdoch of ‘ill-judged’ actions which ‘fell short’ of the responsibilities and ‘competence’ demanded of his position.
The less than complementary report is liable to bring Murdoch’s career to a juddering halt, barring his promotion within News Corp and endangering his current position.
Speaking to the Telegraph Professor Charles Elson said: “It makes him persona non grata to sit on any other board right now.”
Murdoch resigned as chairman of BSkyB and News International last year but remains involved with both organisations as a non-executive director.
News Corp defended Murdoch’s “distinguished record”, in the wake of the report arguing that Ofcom’s criticisms were “not at all substantiated” by evidence.