Rebekah Brooks 'returning to News Corp' as 'head of UK division'

Brooks is best-known as the former editor of The Sun newspaper

Rebekah Brooks to return as head of News Corps (UK) (Getty Images)

Rebekah Brooks is reportedly returning to News Corp as the chief executive of its UK arm, after she was acquitted of phone-hacking charges.

The former The Sun editor stepped down as chief executive of News Corp four years ago at the height of the hacking scandal.

Brooks is understood to have initially resisted an invitation by News Corp chairman Rupert Murdoch to return as the firm's chief executive, but eventually agreed, a source told the Financial Times.

As part of a wider reshuffle at News Corp UK, Brooks will replace chief executive Mike Darcey, and The Sun editor David Dinsmore will take a senior operational role at News UK – leaving the spot at the head of Britain's best-selling tabloid up for grabs.

Brooks’ appointment comes a year after she was cleared of all charges related to the phone-hacking scandal, following an 8-month trial.

In April, News Corp confirmed that Brooks was in talks to become a key player in the organisation’s global digital expansion.

Murdoch’s high regard for Brooks, whom he once said he thought of as a daughter, is well known. When Brooks resigned from her role at what was previously called News International in 2011, she received a £10.8million pay-off.

Labour MP Tom Watson, a fierce critic of News Corp, told the Financial Times that while there “are a lot of people who won’t see eye-to-eye” with Brooks, she is “entitled to rebuild her life”.

A spokesperson from News Corp told The Independent: “As we have said before, we have been having discussion with Rebekah Brooks and when we have any announcements to make we will let you know.”