News Corporation, still stinging from the phone hacking scandal in its British newspaper unit, has forced out the editor of its prestigious Times of London broadsheet.

James Harding said to his staff on Wednesday that he would resign amid pressure from News Corp.'s senior executives, The New York Times [6] reported.

Early on Wednesday, he called CEO Rupert Murdoch to offer his resignation, making him the second high-level executive in two weeks to leave News International, News Corp.'s British newspaper arm, the Times said. Tom Mockridge, the chief executive of News International, resigned on Dec. 2.

"It has been made clear to me that News Corporation would like to appoint a new editor of the Times," Harding told his staff. "I have therefore agreed to stand down."

A spokesman for News Corp. did not immediately respond to requests from TheWrap for comment.

Harding was long considered a prodigy  at the Times. He became editor in 2007, at 38, making him one of the youngest in the broadsheet's 227-year history.

His counterpart at the weekly Sunday Times, John Witherow, is expected to replace him, the Times said.