The editor of the South Wales Echo is to leave his job in the autumn to take up a university post, it was announced today.

Mike Hill, left, took over the Cardiff-based daily in March 2008 having previously been acting editor since the resignation of Richard Williams in October 2007.

He will leave the Trinity Mirror-owned title in November to take up a new senior post at the University of Wales in Newport.

Mike’s successor will be Tim Gordon, currrently the editor of sister title Wales on Sunday.

Alan Edmunds, publishing director of Media Wales, said: “Mike has done an excellent job as Echo Editor, leading many initiatives which have developed the newspaper in first class fashion over the last three years.

“He will stay with us until the end of November when he will leave with our thanks and our very best wishes for the future. Until then, Mike will help us with a smooth transition to his successor.

“I am also pleased to announce that Tim Gordon will take over from Mike as South Wales Echo editor. Tim has been editor of Wales on Sunday since 2002, a role he has combined with that of WalesOnline Editor since 2008.

“I know that Tim is very excited by the new role and the opportunity to lead the Echo forward, using the many years of experience he has gained working across all of our titles at Media Wales. I am sure you will join with me in congratulating him on his appointment.”

Mike originally joined Trinity Mirror as head of multimedia working across all its regional titles. Before that he had worked at the Derby Evening Telegraph in a variety of roles including deputy news editor and news editor.

An announcement about the editorship of Wales on Sunday and WalesOnline will be made “in the near future.”