UPDATED Sept. 2, 2:55 p.m. London time: Rebekah Brooks has been appointed chief executive of News UK, effective Sept. 7, News Corp said Wednesday.
Incumbent David Dinsmore will become chief operating officer and Tony Gallagher will become the new editor of The Sun, effective in the coming weeks.
8/11 Brooks said: “I am delighted to return to News UK. It is a privilege to be back among the most talented journalists” #NewsUK— News UK (@NewsUK) September 2, 2015
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LONDON -- Rupert Murdoch protege Rebekah Brooks will be returning to News Corp in a high-profile role, a year after being cleared of all charges related to a phone-hacking scandal, reports said.
The Financial Times reported Friday evening that her appointment as chief executive of News UK could be announced as early September.
News Corp said in a statement: "We’ve been having discussions with Rebekah Brooks, and when we have any announcements to make, we’ll be sure to let you know."
Her reported return to the company isn't a surprise, even though she was a central figure in the phone-hacking scandal that resulted in more than 100 arrests and the closure of the paper she oversaw, News of the World.
She resigned her post as chief executive of Murdoch's News International (now News UK) back in 2011 and was cleared of all charges related to the UK phone hacking case last year.
Despite a very public drubbing to her reputation, Murdoch has always stood by her and wanted to her to return to the company as the leader of News UK, the FT said.
Earlier this year, reports suggested she was close to taking a role which would oversee Storyful, a social media agency, owned by News Corp.
News Corp and News UK couldn't be reached for comment Saturday morning.
Also on Friday, Britain's Crown Prosecution Service said it had received a file of evidence relating to the phone-hacking investigation and would be considering corporate liability charges. News UK declined to comment on that issue, Reuters reported.