His insistence on putting users first, and focusing on elegance and simplicity, has become deeply ingrained in his own company, and is spreading to rival firms too.

At the same time, however, the Responsibility Matrix is strongly rooted in the company's existing best practices.

Mr Murdoch’s feisty character has helped his company become bold. But feistiness is ingrained in News Corporation: it will not disappear if the chairman-boss becomes a mere chairman.