Chris Albrecht, HBO Chairman and Chief Executive, was forced to resign on Wednesday in the wake of his arrest Sunday on suspicion of assaulting his girlfriend.(Xinhua/ReutersPhoto)

BEIJING, May10 (Xinhuanet) -- Chris Albrecht, HBO Chairman and Chief Executive, was forced to resign on Wednesday in the wake of his arrest Sunday on suspicion of assaulting his girlfriend, U.S. media reported on Wednesday.

Albrecht, 54, one of the most powerful executives in Hollywood, said in a statement he "agreed to step down as chairman and CEO of Home Box Office" at the request of parent company Time Warner Inc., a move that came the same day the Los Angeles Times reported his alleged involvement in a battery case 16 years ago.

The newspaper reported that in 1991 the cable TV network had paid a settlement of at least 400,000 U.S. dollarsto a female subordinate who alleged that Albrecht had shoved and choked her at the cable channel's Los Angeles office.

The woman, Sasha Emerson, had been romantically involved with Albrecht, according to these people, who are close to her but who declined to be identified because the settlement was meant to be confidential.

The settlement was overseen by Time Warner President Jeffrey Bewkes-- then an HBO executive-- according topeople with knowledge of the details. Bewkes is in line to become chief executive of Time Warner next year, when Richard D. Parsons retires.

Lawyer for Albrecht was not immediately available for comment whileAlbrecht's spokesman also declined to say anything further.

Albrecht was booked into the Clark County, Nevada, jail early on Sunday andreleased shortly thereafter.

Albrecht, a former New York City nightclub proprietor and talent agent, joined HBO in 1985 as a senior vice president, andbecame chairman and CEO of the network in July 2002.

(Agencies)