News Limited has declined to comment on a report that Lachlan Murdoch could become chairman.
When News Limited CEO and Chairman John Hartigan departed at the end of 2011 he freed up two positions. Former CEO of Foxtel Kim Williams was appointed chief executive, while Rupert Murdoch became chairman of the News Limited board.
An article in The Australian reported that when Hartigan departed, Rupert took up the position of chairman merely to “keep the seat warm for Lachlan”.
When approached for a response to the news story, News Limited declined to comment.
Lachlan Murdoch was publisher of The Australian in the early 1990s, and in 1995 was appointed as deputy chief executive of News Limited, before moving offshore to run other arms of the the publisher's parent company News Corporation.
In 2005, he suddenly resigned from his executive positions at News Corporation. Through his company Illyria, he now has a stake in Network Ten and owns half of DMG radio.
The recent speculation about Murdoch follows the appointment of James Warburton as chief executive at Network Ten, freeing up Lachlan Murdoch who was interim CEO.
During his time as interim CEO of Network Ten, Murdoch cut job numbers and costs in a bid to streamline operations, while setting his sights on increased market share for the company, which sits behind rivals Seven and Nine.
Follow @AdNews on Twitter for breaking stories and campaigns throughout the day.
Have something to say? Send us your comments using the form below or contact the writer at erinsmth@yaffa.com.au
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at adnews@yaffa.com.au
Sign up to the AdNews newsletter, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for breaking stories and campaigns throughout the day.