News Corp executive James Murdoch, under pressure over his role in Britain's tabloid phone hacking scandal, is stepping down from the board of Sotheby's, the auction house has said.

In a filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the auctioneer said Murdoch had decided not to stand for re-election at Sotheby's May 8 annual meeting.

Murdoch, the younger son of media mogul Rupert Murdoch, has been shedding posts to concentrate on his role in his father's television business.

Last month he quit as chairman of News International, News Corp's British newspaper division. He also has resigned from the board of drug maker GlaxoSmithKline.