BSkyB is to put James Murdoch's promotion to chairman to a shareholder vote to fend off potential investor unrest.

The vote is part of a package of concessions designed by BSkyB's independent non-executive directors to reassure shareholders, according to today's Financial Times.

Publicly listed UK companies such as Sky must comply with the combined code on corporate governance, which states that it is against best practice both for a chief executive to become chairman of the same company and for that chairman to be connected to a major shareholder.

"James will re-stand for election, so if shareholders are not happy they have the chance to vote against him," Nicholas Ferguson, the senior independent director at BSkyB, told the FT.

Sky has been keen to avoid shareholder unrest by demonstrating it followed a rigorous process in elevating James Murdoch to non-executive chairman, replacing his father Rupert.

Investors are likely to discuss the moves at a meeting of the Association of British Insurers this week.

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