2 December 2012 Last updated at 21:18 ET
News International chief executive Tom Mockridge is to leave his role at the end of December.
Mr Mockridge, who replaced Rebekah Brooks in July 2011, is stepping down to “pursue outside opportunities”, News Corporation announced.
Rupert Murdoch, chairman and chief executive of News Corp, said Mr Mockridge’s decision was “absolutely and entirely his own”.
News International publishes newspapers including the Sun and the Times.
‘Steadfast leadership’
In a statement, Mr Murdoch said: “For nearly 22 years it has been my pleasure to have Tom Mockridge as a colleague.
“Whether it was his early days with our newspaper group in Australia, his incredible work building Sky Italia, or his steadfast leadership of News International, Tom has always been a skilled executive and a trusted friend.
“His decision to step down is absolutely and entirely his own. I am sorry to see him leave us but I know he will be a great success wherever he goes.”
Mr Mockridge replaced Mrs Brooks last year when she resigned after another News International newspaper, the now closed News of the World, became embroiled in the phone-hacking scandal.
Channel launch
Mr Mockridge was previously in charge of News Corp’s Italian broadcasting operation, Sky Italia.
At the time of Mr Mockridge’s appointment as News International chief executive, Mr Murdoch praised him as “a highly respected and accomplished media executive”, who had shown “leadership and integrity” in creating Sky Italia.
Mr Mockridge, who was born in New Zealand, started his career in newspapers and launched the Sky Italia 24-hour news channel in Italy in 2003.
His departure comes as News Corp plans to split into two businesses, separating its newspaper and book publishing interests from its now dominant TV and film enterprises.
BBC News – Business
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