Flame-haired trailblazer was News Corp’s fiery favourite

REBEKAH BROOKS is used to getting what she wants. The trailblazing tabloid editor and News International chief finally quit, but she will leave the company with her charm and networking skills, as well as plenty of secrets.

Brooks, a flame-haired 43-year-old, became the focus of widespread anger over a phone-hacking scandal at the company she headed. She had a remarkable rise to power in the male-dominated world of tabloid journalism, becoming editor of the News of the World in 2000 and the Sun’s first female editor in 2003.

In 2009, she was promoted to chief executive of News International, reporting to Rupert Murdoch’s son James.