Rebekah Brooks Returns to News Corp.

Rebekah Brooks, the News Corp. executive who came under scrutiny as part of an investigation of the company’s involvement in phone hacking, is returning to the fold in a senior position.

She has been named chief executive officer of News Corp. U.K., the same post she held before stepping down amid a burgeoning scandal into widespread use of illegal forms of news-gathering at the company’s tabloid News of the World. Brooks had served as the paper’s editor before rising up the ranks. Last year, she was cleared by a jury of all criminal charges related to intercepting the phone messages of celebrities and members of the British royal family.

Brooks will replace Mike Darcey, who is departing as CEO after a three-year tenure.

“I am delighted to return to News U.K. It is a privilege to be back amongst the most talented journalists and executives in the business,” said Brooks in a statement. “I am confident that we can meet the many challenges of this digital age with a combination of cutting edge technologies and world class journalism.”

Brooks was viewed as a close confidant of Rupert Murdoch, with the News Corp. chief publicly voicing his support for the embattled executive even as the scandal worsened.

In addition, David Dinsmore will become the unit’s chief operating officer. He was previously editor of News Corp. paper the Sun.

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