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Record exec to succeed Donald Martin in Glasgow

A senior editorial executive at the Daily Record has today been named as the new editor-in-chief of Newsquest’s Herald and Times group in Glasgow.

Jonathan Russell, left, is to take charge of The Herald as well as having overall editorial responsibility for sister titles the Evening Times, the Sunday Herald and a string of magazines.

He succeeds Donald Martin who stunned the industry by quitting earlier this year to join the DC Thomson-owned Sunday Post in Dundee.

Jonathan is currently assistant editor of the Daily Record and Sunday Mail, and has held several other senior roles within Trinity Mirror including Scottish editor of the Daily Mirror and editor of the Paisley Daily Express.

The 40-year-old said today: “It is a huge honour to be appointed to one of the biggest jobs in journalism.

“I am looking forward immensely to taking up my new post and leading the outstanding team of journalists at The Herald, Sunday Herald and Evening Times.”

Tim Blott, Herald and Times managing director, added: “I am delighted to welcome Jonathan to the group at this exciting point in our history.

“He brings outstanding journalistic ability combined with a clear focus on and understanding of the needs of our print and digital readers and advertisers in a fast-moving marketplace. I wish him well in this key role.”

Jonathan, who takes up his new role in the summer, began his career in journalism as a reporter on the Evening Express in Aberdeen.

He played tennis for Scotland at Under-21 level and represented Scotland at the World Championships of Racketlon, a racket-sport cousin of the triathlon and decathlon.

Donald, the current president of the Society of Editors, is leaving to fulfil a lifetime’s ambition to edit a Scottish Sunday newspaper, following in the footsteps of his grandfather Jack Campbell.

Mr Blott said: “I would like to put on record my thanks to Donald for restructuring our news operations and putting in place the very solid foundations on which we can continue to build our successful business.”