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Reach announces new appointments across regional newsrooms

Posted on: September 1, 2020 by admin

Reach plc has announced new editors across titles in the Midlands and West Country.

As part of the company’s restructure, Adam Moss has been appointed to the role of Editor: Coventry, Leicester and Northants.

The company said Adam (pictured above) had led impressive digital growth during his time as digital editor of LincolnshireLive. LincolnshireLive was launched in 2016 and has grown to become one of Reach’s fastest growing sites during that time.

Marc Waddington has been appointed to the role of Editor: Stoke, Staffordshire and Cheshire. Marc was previously Executive Editor, live news, at the Daily Post and NorthWalesLive operation in Colwyn Bay, where he was pivotal in leading the multi award-winning team.

Julie Crouch has been appointed to the position of StaffsLive Editor.

Formerly Editor of the Burton Mail, her new role will see her growing the company’s digital audience for StaffsLive and leading the brand team.

Chris Mallett will take on the role of Northants and Warwickshire Editor. Chris has been Acting Editor at DerbyshireLive for the last six months and was Digital Editor before that.

He will be in charge of establishing Reach’s new brands in this area and growing their audiences.

Commenting on the appointments announced today, Anna Jeys, audience and content director for the Midlands, said: “I’m pleased to be able to welcome Marc, Adam, Julie and Chris to the team in their new roles. Between them they have a great breadth of experience in growing digital audiences and I know they will be a huge asset to the Midlands.

“Each of the appointments announced today will help us to further engage with our local communities and continue to promote quality journalism in our region.”

Meanwhile in the West Country, Emma Slee is to take charge of Reach’s titles as regional editor in the Bristol, Somerset and Gloucestershire area.

Emma (pictured above), who is currently in charge of the SomersetLive website and associated weekly newspapers, will begin her new role next month.

The news comes as editor-in-chief for the area, Mike Norton, stepped down from his post following the restructure programme at Reach. The Bristol region has now been merged with titles in Devon and Cornwall to form a new south west region which will be led by Jacqui Merrington as audience and content director for the region.

This week the company also announced that Rachael Sugden, senior editor for the Gloucestershire area, had decided to leave the business.

Over at Newsquest, Karl Holbrook has been appointed editor of the Northern Echo, moving from his role as editor of The Bolton News & Lancashire.

Karl replaces Hannah Chapman, who is remaining at Newsquest as Editor of the Darlington & Stockton Times.

Karl told Behind Local News: “The Northern Echo is one of the most prestigious news brands in the UK and it is an absolute honour to become only the 15th editor in 150 years. To take the reins of The Great Daily of the North is a big responsibility, especially in these strange and unpredictable times — and that is a task that I do not take on lightly.”

Pictures: Behind Local News