News International is set to make large-scale cuts after its two sales divisions merged into one. A trade source said up to 100 jobs could be axed, Media Guardian reported.

This re-organisation will have Times Media Group's ad sales teams merge with their colleagues at News Group Newspapers.

The new ad sales structure will be effective from September, and could cause 100 out of 450 positions go, according to MediaWeek.

News International refused to comment on the cuts.

However, James Murdoch, the chairman and chief executive of News Corporation Europe and Asia, who started heading News International since December, once stated that "some redundancies" will occur.

Two senior ad sales executives, Mike Gordon, the deputy managing director of News Group Newspapers, as well as Mark Chippendale, the News Group media director, have already left the company prior to the news of possible job cuts, Media Guardian reported.