Post date: Nov 23, 2011 11:28:42 PM
James Murdoch is no longer on the boards of the immediate parent companies of the two UK newspaper groups under scrutiny for phone hacking but remains executive chair of News International.
UK-MURDOCH RESIGNS -Two weeks ago James Murdoch faced British MPs over the phone hacking scandal at one of his newspapers.
Now it has become clear he resigned a few weeks ago from the boards of two of his UK media companies.
Regulatory records show the son of media tycoon Rupert Murdoch has stood down from News Group Newspapers, which publishes the Sun and formerly the News of the World, and Times Newspapers Limited, which publishes the Times. .
He remains chairman of News International - News Corp's UK division.
News Group Newspapers has recently been subject to a host of lawsuits for alleged privacy violations.
It's been damaged by revelations that people working for the now defunct News of the World hacked into the phones of thousands of people to generate news.
The scandal sparked the Leveson enquiry in the UK which is currently hearing evidence from alleged hacking victims.
On Wednesday Gerry and Kate McCann spoke about press intrusion after their three-year-old daughter Madeleine disappeared while on holiday in Portugal.
KATE MCCANN, MOTHER OF MISSING GIRL MADELEINE, SAYING:
"I felt totally violated. I had written these words, my thoughts at the most desperate time of my life, many people won't have to experience that, and it was my only way of communicating with Madeleine. And for me there was absolutely no respect shown for me, as a grieving mother or as a human being."
James Murdoch has been called to give evidence to the UK parliament twice about why the company was not more aware of phone hacking within the News of the World.
News International could not be reached for comment.
Penny Tweedie, Reuters.