BSkyB Finance Director Mr Martin Stewart has thrown his hat into the ring for the top job at the pay-TV company, a source claims.
This would set up a potential face-off against Rupert Murdoch's son James for the chief executive position.
The elder Murdoch chairs BSkyB, and his News Corp media empire owns 35 per cent of the company.
The bid by Mr Stewart, seen as the favoured internal candidate of outgoing chief executive, Mr Tony Ball, comes as BSkyB meets with investors to quell fears of an automatic Murdoch succession.
READ MORE
BSkyB has declined to comment.