Rebekah Brooks reportedly poised for News Corp return as Storyful boss

There has been widespread speculation about Ms Brooks' future since her acquittal in the phone-hacking trial last summer

There has been much speculation about the future of Rebekah Brooks since she was cleared in the phone-hacking trial eight months ago (Getty)

Rebekah Brooks, the former editor of the now-defunct tabloid News of the World and the Sun and a much trusted lieutenant of Rupert Murdoch, may be poised to return to the News Corp fold – eight months after she was cleared in the phone-hacking trial.

Reports said that Ms Brooks is all set to make her comeback by running News Corp’s social media news agency Storyful. The Financial Times said Ms Brooks will initially be based in the UK and spend time at Storyful's Dublin headquarters, though it is said she has also rented a flat in New York.

News Corp acquired Storyful last year for $25m. Founded in 2008 by Mark Little, the firm verifies and manages the rights holders of news and videos on social media platforms such as Twitter. It does so in real time.

Ms Brooks, 46, was acquitted last June by a London court of being part of an illegal conspiracy at the News of the World tabloid to hack into phones and make illegal payments to police and public officials. There has been much speculation about the future of the former chief executive of News Corp’s UK subsidiary since she was found not guilty.

Andy Coulson, another former News of the World editor who went on to run communications for David Cameron, was found guilty and served five months in prison of an 18 month term.

Mr Murdoch and Ms Brooks have been close for many years. In the summer of 2011 as Mr Murdoch flew to London to personally oversee the company’s response to the hacking allegations, he was filmed with a protective arm around her as they left his home.

News Corp Chief Executive Rupert Murdoch exited his London home on Sunday with his arm around embattled newspaper chief Rebekah Brooks, and told reporters that he was concerned about her.

Asked what his priority was, Mr Murdoch gestured at Ms Brooks and said: “This one.”