Britain's BSkyB set to appoint younger Murdoch as boss (Yes, Rupert's boy)

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1504&ncid=1504&e=7&u=/afp/20031103/bs_afp/britain_media_company_031103123357

LONDON (AFP) - Directors of British satellite broadcaster BSkyB were expected to appoint the younger son of media tycoon Rupert Murdoch as the company's new chief executive, despite significant shareholder concern.


The board of directors of BSkyB, which is 35-percent owned by Murdoch's News Corporation, was due to meet on Monday afternoon to discuss who should become the broadcaster's new chief executive, a company spokesman said.


A series of newspaper reports over the weekend and on Monday said that James Murdoch, 30, had been lined up to replace the highly successful Tony Ball, who announced in September that he was stepping down.


Groups representing institutional shareholders have questioned whether the relatively inexperienced younger Murdoch is the right person for the job, but according to reports the succession had already been sealed.


"Rupert (Murdoch) is 100 percent determined to see James appointed," a person described as being close to the board of directors told the Financial Times.

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