Regional publisher Newsquest is on the hunt for a new chief executive after its parent company confirmed that its current boss is planning to step down.
Paul Davidson, who has headed the newspaper group since 2003, is reported to be preparing to bow out later this year.
A spokesman for US parent company Gannett told Sky News: “Paul is in the early stages of planning his retirement.”
The company is said to have hired a firm of headhunters to oversee the search for a new boss, with both external and internal candidates expected to be considered.
Paul joined Newsquest in 1988 and succeeded to the top job 15 years later.
He is the longest-serving of the chief executives of the big four regional publishing groups and one of the few senior industry bosses to have been in post since before the economic downturn.
Regional titles published by the group include the Herald, Glasgow, Northern Echo, Oxford Mail, Southern Daily Echo, South Wales Argus, Lancashire Evening Telegraph and Bolton News.
Unlike some of the other major publishers, Newsquest has so far refused to take any of its daily titles weekly and has relied on cover price rises to recoup lost revenues.
Meanwhile the National Union of Journalists has criticised the company over reports that it is planning to axe up to eight sub-editing jobs in Wales and Gloucestershire.
According to the union, the company is proposing to create a subbing hub in Newport to serve all titles across the area.
John Toner, NUJ organiser for freelances and Wales, said: “Long-serving, loyal employees are being asked to compete with each other for the privilege of uprooting their homes to work in Newport. For many this will simply be impossible.
“Getting rid of local subs has proved disastrous for other regional publishers, and I do not believe Newsquest will prove the exception. Jobs are to be lost in search of a ‘streamlined workflow’ that will not materialise.”
No one from Newsquest has so far been available for further comment.
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A leaving card was very quickly circulating around Newsquest. So far it has already been inscribed with the names of 342 staff “not available for comment” on Mr Davidson’s departure…
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Sadly he partly had a reputation for butchering the quality and number of staff in the Newsquest empire as so many lost their jobs while he pursued profit so much.
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No doubt he’ll leave with a gigantic golden goodbye while those of us working harder than ever on his publications continue with our frozen salaries…
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Will he ever learn to speak again?
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No comment.
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A lot could be said about Mr Davidson.
I worry what type of axe – sorry ideas – his replacement will swing/bring
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He will be missed – LOL
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