Bullivant Media’s director of editorial is leaving the company next month.

Beverley Rigby was the launch editor of the Leamington Observer in 1988 and has played a key role in the development of its eventual parent company Observer Standard Newspapers.

OSN, which was owned by the Bullivant family, was bought out of administration by the newly-formed Bullivant Media in April.

It publishes around 20 weekly newspapers, along with magazines and websites, covering Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire and other parts of the West Midlands.

A statement by managing director Chris Bullivant issued to staff said: “She played a crucial role in the development and expansion of Observer Standard Newspapers and has been key to the restructuring and reorganisation which has been vital to the establishment of Bullivant Media.

“Beverley has however decided that, with the new structure in place, now would be a good time for her to take a new direction in her working life.

“After such a long partnership, we will be sad to see her go, but she has done a great job and I feel confident that the editorial team has the strength in depth it needs to continue to flourish.”

Beverley is due to finish on 11 Septembe and told HTFP she had no firm plans for the future as yet and was considering her options going forward.

She will be replaced by Matthew Salisbury who spent 15 years as Beverley’s group deputy and who will combine his new role with his current position of chief sub-editor.

Comments

john (27/08/2009 11:46:19)
I would have thought that being only chief sub, and answering presumably to an editor, would make his dual position as editorial director and therefore boss of the editors, a bit fraught when it comes to who reports to who, and who gives orders to who. Or are they going to produce newspapers without editors? I guess having kept their business but getting rid of its debts is a neat trick, but just what is the chain of command going to be?

the mole (27/08/2009 14:13:44)
Not quite right there, John (above), but thanks for the concern.