A senior executive from the Yorkshire Post has been poached to become the new boss of Northcliffe Media’s newspaper centre in Hull.

Mike Pennington, currently commercial director of Yorkshire Post Newspapers in Leeds, is moving down the M62 to taken over as publisher of Hull News and Media, whose titles include the Hull Daily Mail.

He is the third of four publishers to be appointed at Northcliffe’s big city dailies, following the appointments of David Simms (Leicester Mercury) and Steve Hollingsworth (Nottingham Post) earlier this week.

A fourth publisher, to take charge of the Bristol Evening Post and and sister titles, is due to appointed shortly.

The series of appointments follow the recent restructure led by new Northcliffe managing director Steve Auckland which saw the departure of two long-serving regional editors.

The Hull centre was previously part of the remit of North-East regional managing director Phil Inman, shortly due to take up a new role as MD of the Midland News Association, owners of the Express and Star.

Mike has worked with the Johnston Press-owned YP for six years, progressing from advertising director of Sheffield Newspapers in 2005, to managing director of Halifax Courier in 2006 to his current role.

It is anticipated that Mike will join Northcliffe Media on Monday 5 September. Richard Duxbury, currently deputy managing director in Hull, will cover the role until his arrival.