News Corporation board member Thomas Perkins says embattled CEO Rupert Murdoch has the full support of the company's board of directors, and is not considering elevating a senior executive to replace him amid a phone-hacking scandal in Britain.
However, even the News Corp-owned Wall Street Journal reported that Murdoch had been considering stepping down as CEO in favour of chief operating officer Chase Carey.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Perkins said the News Corp board was not considering elevating Carey to take over as CEO.
A Bloomberg News report said the board on Monday considered the company's succession plan, including naming Carey as CEO.
Perkins said a succession plan had long been in place but has not been brought up in light of recent revelations that News Corp journalists hacked phones and may have paid British police for scoops.
Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported that Murdoch had been considering turning over the reins of his media empire for more than a year.
"Even before the scandal erupted in recent weeks, the elder Murdoch had considered stepping down as CEO in favour of chief operating officer Chase Carey, according to people familiar with the situation," the Journal reported, adding that under that scenario, Murdoch would remain as executive chairman.
The switch had been under consideration for more than a year, said the Journal.
"Even if Mr Murdoch decides to make this change, he wouldn't do it right now, the person said.
Instead it would likely happen in several months' time, when presumably the furore had died down," the Journal said, quoting its source.
A switch now, however, even if long intended, would have enormous symbolic significance, the newspaper added.
Australian-born, Murdoch, 80, one of the most powerful press magnates in the world, will appear before Britain's parliamentary Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Tuesday accompanied by son James, 38 and protege, Rebekah Brooks, 43.
The Murdoch-owned News of the World, a now shuttered weekly tabloid, is accused of having hacked into the voice mails of some 4000 people since 2000, including politicians, celebrities as well as crime victims.
