A new managing director has been appointed at a regional newspaper publishing group.

Andrew Blair is the new MD of South West Media Group, the division of Northcliffe Media which publishes Devon dailies such as the Express and Echo, The Herald, Western Morning News and Herald Express among other papers and websites.

Currently managing director of Citizen and Echo publishers Gloucestershire Media, Andrew will succeed Duncan Currall from 1 January.

Duncan has been MD for just over eight years and has now been appointed deputy chairman of the South West Media Group.

His new role will see him develop relationships across Devon as he already sits on a number of boards including Plymouth University and Visit Devon.

Andrew was Gloucestershire Media MD for nearly five years before which he worked for Aberdeen Journals for eight years, including as assistant managing director, which at the time was also owned by Northcliffe Media.

Sarah Irvine will become the new MD for Gloucestershire Media in addition to her current responsibilities as MD of Northcliffe Media’s Somerset and Dorset division, whose titles include the Bath Chronicle and Western Gazette in Yeovil.

Previously Sarah was the advertisement director of the Plymouth and Derby centres.