Rupert Murdoch risks spat over London Times editor appointment
Rupert Murdoch risked a spat with directors tasked with protecting the independence of London's Times and Sunday Times newspapers on Friday after ignoring their disapproval and appointing temporary acting editors to both titles.
The independent directors refused to formally approve the appointments in an apparent disagreement over the future of the papers, which Murdoch's British newspaper operation said were in a "very difficult financial position."
The Times reported that the independent directors "refused to accept News Corporation's nominations of the two men for permanent appointments." The company said it was going ahead with the appointments on an acting basis.
"During this interim period of continued consultation ... we still have a responsibility to provide these two newspapers and their journalists with strong and stable leadership," said News International Chief Executive Mike Darcey.
Darcey said John Witherow, the editor of the weekly Sunday Times, would become acting editor of the daily Times, effective immediately.
Witherow's deputy, Martin Ivens, takes over as Sunday Times editor, but again on an acting basis.
Witherow, who has edited the Sunday Times for 18 years, will fill the gap left by the departure of James Harding from the editorship of the Times in December.
The independent directors, who include former Bank of England Deputy Governor Rupert Pennant-Rea, are responsible for ensuring that Murdoch abides by undertakings he made when he bought the papers in 1981.
These include ensuring that the two titles remain distinct and have separate editors free from editorial interference. The appointment of a
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