Under-fire newspaper group News International has appointed a heavyweight corporate affairs director to spearhead its reputation management.

Amid continued controversy concerning allegations of phone hacking at the News of the World, the group has appointed Simon Greenberg, a widely respected PR professional used to representing heavily scrutinised brands.

Most recently chief of staff for England’s failed 2018 World Cup bid, Greenberg was previously communications director for Chelsea FC, handling intense media pressure during the era of José Mourinho.

At News International, he steps into a newly created role – previously, public relations had been handled by the four national titles in the group or parent company News Corp Europe & Asia.

As well as dealing with negative publicity over the phone-hacking scandal, Greenberg will be working with News International's parent company, News Corporation, on the controversial bid to take full control of British Sky Broadcasting.