Dow Jones CEO Les Hinton Quits over NOTW Scandal

Les Hinton Resigns over Phone Hacking Scandal

Les Hinton, CEO of Down Jones Inc., is stepping down as the heat over the News of the World phone hacking scandal rises. Les Hinton was CEO of News International when the phone hacking allegations first came to light.

• Rupert Murdoch Apology Letter

In 2007 and 2009, Hinton told Parliament that the phone hacking was isolated to a single reporter; clearly that wasn't true. In a statement upon resigning, Les Hinton wrote, “That I was ignorant of what apparently happened is irrelevant and in the  circumstances I feel it is proper for me to resign from News Corp, and apologize  to those hurt by the actions of the News of the World.”

As did Rebekah Brooks before him, Hinton studiously avoided taking any direct blame for the phone hacking scandal, framing his resignation as a matter of principle.

Prior to taking over at Dow Jones, Les Hinton ran News International for ten years.

Photos

Les Hinton Resigns over His Role in the NOTW Scandal

see larger image

uploaded by Getty Images