From teenage rebel to prodigal son, James Murdoch surprised many observers when he rose to become the heir apparent to his father Rupert's global media empire.

But that gilded future is not so assured after pressure from a phone-hacking scandal in Britain forced the 39-year-old out of a second senior corporate position in the space of two months.

While continuing to deny that he had any knowledge that phone hacking was widespread at the now defunct News of the World tabloid, James Murdoch resigned as chairman of British pay-TV giant BSkyB on Tuesday.

He said he did not want his association with the scandal to become "a lightning rod" for the broadcaster -- and the lightning has followed him ever since the scandal broke last July.

In February he resigned as executive chairman of News International, the British newspaper wing of Rupert Murdoch's sprawling US-based News Corporation empire.

He also resigned his directorship at auction house Sotheby's last month and quit the board of pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline in January.

Meanwhile Murdoch's resignation from BSkyB, following months of pressure from shareholders, comes just weeks ahead of a report from the British parliamentary committee that twice questioned him last year over the scandal.

He also faces an investigation by Britain's broadcasting regulator into whether he is a "fit and proper" person to sit on the BSkyB board.

News Corp had said James Murdoch would focus on the company's international television operations after leaving News International -- but these will now have to exclude his father's British interests.

James is the fourth of Australian-born Rupert Murdoch's six children.

The 80-year-old mo1gul has a daughter from his first marriage, two sons -- Lachlan and James -- and a daughter from his second marriage and two daughters from his third marriage.

Today the Harvard-educated James wears glasses, sharp suits and short hair and is married to an American with whom he has three children.

But in his youth, he was considered a rebel with his earrings, baggy trousers and platinum blond hair.

After dropping out of Harvard University in 1995, he created his own hip hop label, "Rawkus," which was bought by News Corp. in 1998.

His elder brother Lachlan, 40, was once considered the successor to his father, who despite persistent speculation has shown no signs of stepping aside any time soon.

But Lachlan gave up his senior executive positions in News Corp. in 2005 amid disagreements with other company executives and moved to Australia.

James Murdoch's troubles at News International and a surprise appearance by Lachlan at his father's side renewed talk that the elder brother may once again be in the running to take over the family business.

Lachlan, rather than James, accompanied Rupert Murdoch during a visit to the newsroom of The Sun, another News International paper, in February during which it was announced that the Sun would be launching a Sunday edition.

James Murdoch joined News Corp. in 1996, working on digital media ventures and corporate development projects as an executive vice president based in New York.

He took over News Corp.'s Asian television group STAR in 2000 and served as chief executive of BSkyB from 2003 to 2007, making him the youngest chief executive in FTSE 100 history.

He then headed News International from 2007 until February.

In March of last year, James Murdoch was named News Corp.'s deputy chief operating officer, moving from London to New York to report to News Corp. deputy chairman, president and chief operating officer Chase Carey.

James was at his father's side when they both testified to British lawmakers last year and the elder Murdoch was hit in the face with a custard pie -- but it was Rupert's Chinese-born wife Wendi who leapt into the fray with a full-blooded swing at her husband's assailant.