Four senior figures in regional journalism have been handed key roles on the new press regulator’s funding body.

Publishers who have signed contracts with the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) have nominated members to join the board of IPSO’s  Regulatory Funding Company.

The regional representative are Belfast Telegraph editor Mike Gilson, Johnston Press chief executive Ashley Highfield, group finance director for Archant Brian McCarthy and DC Thomson chief executive Ellis Watson.

The role of the RFC will be to raise the industry funding to finance IPSO.

Paul Vickers, a director of the RFC, said: “I am very pleased that the industry has shown its support for the new system by nominating a group of directors with such deep experience and complementary skills.

“The building blocks for the new self-regulatory system are fitting into place.”

Other members of the RFC board are, for the nationals: Paul Ashford, group editorial director, Northern & Shell; Christopher Longcroft, chief financial officer, News UK and Paul Vickers, secretary & group legal director, Trinity Mirror.

Albert Read, deputy managing director, Conde Nast Publications represents magazines.

The board will serve until the company’s AGM in 2015 with the chairman due to announced soon.