A former managing director at a regional publisher is making a comeback after being appointed as commercial director for a business news website.

Mark Rodgers, a former MD for Johnston Press-owned Sheffield Newspapers, has joined TheBusinessDesk.com as commercial director, while five new commercial managers have also been recruited by the website.

Mark lost his job at Sheffield Newspapers, which publishes The Star, in a December 2010 restructure and since then also worked as managing director of Newsquest’s Cheshire division for five weeks before leaving “due to personal circumstances”.

His recruitment to TheBusinessDesk.com comes after the acquisition of the company by Birmingham-based entrepreneur Mark Hales in July and is set to be followed by investment in digital technology and expansion into other UK regions.

Also joining the business website, which currently operates in Yorkshire, the North West and the North Midlands, are new commercial managers Ruth Taylor, Linda Anderson, Matthew Davis, Chris Morley and Brett Murray.

In a story about the new appointments, TheBusinessDesk.com founder and director David Parkin said: “It’s great to welcome such a strong new commercial team into the business.

“TheBusinessDesk.com has always been recognised for having a strong editorial team of business journalists, now they are complemented by a talented and enthusiastic new commercial team.”

Ruth has previously worked for regional publisher Johnston Press as events and sponsorship manager, while Matthew has previously worked for Trinity Mirror in the North West.

When Mark left Sheffield Newspapers, he was replaced by John Bills after a company shake-up which saw Sheffield Newspapers, South Yorkshire Newspapers, North Notts Newspapers and Derbyshire-based Wilfred Edmunds combined into a single business unit.