LONDON (TIP): News Corporation’s UK newspaper unit, embroiled in the aftermath of a phone hacking scandal, lost another highranking executive on Wednesday when the editor of The Times of London announced he would quit. The executive, James Harding, considered a golden boy of British journalism , said he would depart his post at The Times amid pressure from News Corporation’s senior leadership. “It has been made clear to me that News Corporation would like to appoint a new editor.., ” I have therefore agreed to stand down,” he told.

He called the corporation’s chief executive, Rupert Murdoch to offer his resignation , the second in two weeks at News International . On December 2, Tom Mockridge, chief executive of News International, had announced his resignation. Harding took over as editor of The Times in 2007 at 38, making him one of the youngest to hold the job in the broadsheet’s 227-year history. His counterpart at The Sunday Times, John Witherow, was widely expected to replace him. News International declined to comment.