By Daily Mail Reporter PUBLISHED: 10:47 EST, 19 January 2013 | UPDATED: 12:07 EST, 19 January 2013 Appointed: John Witherow takes over as acting editor of the Times after 18 years at the helm of the Sunday Times A new interim editor of The Times has been announced despite opposition from the newspaper's independent directors. John Witherow, editor of the Sunday Times for the past 18 years, takes over from James Harding, who stood down last month. Mr Witherow is understood to have been the choice of Rupert Murdoch, chairman of The Times's parent company, who is thought to want to merge both titles in a seven-day operation.
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John Witherow takes over after 18 years at Sunday Times
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Murdoch understood to favour a merger of titles in 7-day operation
Backing: Corporation chief Rupert Murdoch with new Times acting editor @placeholder