Vijay Vaghela is appointed group finance director for Trinity Mirror Plc with immediate effect, succeeding Margaret Ewing, who left the group at the end of June 2002 to join BAA. Vijay, (36), has been acting finance director since July 1.
National Newspapers MD Mark Haysom is to leave the company, with the Nationals’ management team now reporting directly to chief executive Sly Bailey. Corporate development director Richard Wyatt will also leave the company by the end of this month.

Northcliffe Newspapers Group MD Kevin Beatty will be the next chairman of the Newspaper Society’s marketing committee in July when Jim Brown, of Newsquest Media Group, steps down.
Kevin took over at Northcliffe Newspapers in September 2001. He was previously MD of the Evening Standard and Metro and is a former MD of the Mail on Sunday, Scottish Daily Record and Sunday Mail. He was earlier involved in circulation, marketing and management at the Belfast Telegraph, Teesside Evening Gazette and Newcastle Chronicle and Journal.

Archant Regional has appointed a new business development manager to work on new launch and innovation projects across its newspapers.
Tim Youngman will work with divisional managing directors and regional directors to help achieve growth targets. He was formerly development manager for Archant Corporate.

A delivery driver with Aberdeen Journals has completed 30 years of service with the company, which publishes the Evening Express and Press & Journal.
Ian Urquhart was handed an ornamental clock by managing director Allan Scott to mark his achievement.

Award-winning writer Jimmy McGovern has joined the Liverpool Echo as its new columnist.
His first column will be on April 15, the 14th anniversary of the Hillsborough Football Disaster, and he will describe his drama-documentary on the topic as his most important work – as a curtain-raiser to what is being billed a passionate series of articles.

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