In pictures: The rise of Rebekah Wade

June 2009: Wade pictured on the day her move from the Sun editor's chair to chief executive of News International is announced Photograph: PR

1997: Wade, at the time News of the World deputy editor, always an assiduous networker, arrives at 10 Downing Street with her then partner EastEnders star Ross Kemp for a reception hosted by newly elected prime minister Tony Blair Photograph: Reuters

December 2001: Wade, now News of the World editor, arrives for a meeting with home secretary David Blunkett to put forward plans to let parents have controlled access to the Sex Offenders' Register - dubbed 'Sarah's Law' by her paper Photograph: Fiona Hanson/PA

2002: The Sarah's Law campaign was a response to the murder of Sarah Payne. Wade is shown here with Sara Payne, Sarah's mother, at a meeting at the Conservative Party Conference Conference in Bournemouth to discuss Sarah's Law Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

2002: Wade's News of the World splashes with 'Will: I'm Gay', referring to Pop Idol winner Will Young's coming out Photograph: Public Domain

2003: Wade was appointed editor of the Sun in January, replacing David Yelland - making her the paper's first female editor Photograph: Emma Boam/Rex Features

2003: Rebekah dishes out copies of the Sun at a weekend away for the paper's executives to meet the punters in Sandy Bay, Devon Photograph: Public domain

2004: Blair speaks to Wade during the Newspaper Press Fund 40th anniversary reception in central London Photograph: Fiona Hanson/Press Association

2005: Rupert Murdoch and Wade at St Brides Church on Fleet Street during a service to mark the move of Reuters from Fleet Street to Canary Wharf, the last major news organisation to leave the traditional centre of British newspapers Photograph: Graham Turner for the Guardian

2005: Wade returns to her south London home after being questioned by police following an alleged domestic incident involving Kemp. After eight hours' questioning, she was released without charge Photograph: PA

2006: Kemp and Wade in the royal box at centre court at Wimbledon Photograph: Phil Cole/Getty Images

2006: Wade at the All*Star Cup Golf, in Newport, Wales Photograph: Dimitris Legakis/Rex Features

2007: Wade with her then boyfriend, now second husband, the horse trainer Charlie Brooks, at Royal Ascot. Photograph: Rex Features

2008: Gordon Brown hosts a lunch for women in business at 10 Downing Street. Guests included Elisabeth Murdoch, Baroness Amos, Wade and Baroness Scotland Photograph: Fiona Hanson/Press Association

2008: Wade gives evidence to the House of Lords Communications Committee as part of an inquiry into media ownership and the news Photograph: PA