Regional publisher Johnston Press has poached a senior News International executive as its new commercial marketing director.

Neil Jones is joining JP chief executive Ashley Highfield’s senior team from his current role as commercial strategy director at NI.

In the newly-created role, Neil will be responsible for creating and driving the group’s commercial strategy, including advertising and overseeing the marketing function.

Neil started his advertising career at Saatchi and Saatchi in 1986 and also spent 17 years at Carat, one of the UK’s leading media buying and planning agencies.