Elisabeth Murdoch plans to step down from her role as non-executive chairman of Shine Group after 21st Century Fox completes its joint venture with Apollo Global Management to combine Shine with Apollo’s Endemol and Core Media Group, Variety reports.

“The former News Corp. bought Shine Group in early 2011, but the company has continued to operate autonomously from 21st Century Fox’s other TV businesses. Murdoch had stepped away from a hands-on exec role more than a year ago,” the story notes.

The article adds: “Speculation about Murdoch’s future in the company controlled by her father, Rupert Murdoch, and the Murdoch family trust heated up on Sunday after word surfaced that former BSkyB topper Sophie Turner Laing has been tabbed to serve as global CEO of the combined Shine-Endemol-Core. With Laing’s appointment, it was confirmed that Alex Mahon will step down as CEO of Shine and Just Spee will exit as Endemol topper.”

With Murdoch’s departure, it’s possible she will be able to pursue independent business ventures, the article notes.

Elisabeth Murdoch