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Trinity Mirror comeback for axed Johnston Press MD

A former Johnston Press executive whose role was axed in a restructure in July is to return to the industry in a new role with Trinity Mirror.

Stuart Birkett, a former boss of JP’s North-East division which includes the Sunderland Echo, is to take charge of erstwhile rivals ncjMedia, publishers of Newcastle dailies The Chronicle and The Journal.

The appointment follows the announcement earlier this week of the departure of Russell Borthwick, previously regional managing director of all TM’s North-East titles.

In a further announcement, Bob Cuffe is returning as managing director of TM’s Teesside subsidiary Gazette Media Company, publisher of the Teesside Gazette.

The announcements were made to TM staff today by Steve Anderson-Dixon, the newly-appointed MD of Trinity Mirror Regionals.

Before leaving JP, Stuart briefly held the role of managing director of its Scottish titles but his role disappeared in a restructure which saw Helen Oldham take over responsibility for The Scotsman, Edinburgh Evening News and Scotland on Sunday while Stephen Plews took charge of the group’s Scottish weeklies.

Born in the North East, he is a Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland and a non-executive Director of Northumberland Tourism.

Said Steve: “I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Stuart Birkett to the position of managing director of NCJ Media Limited. Stuart has an excellent commercial and general management pedigree acquired over many years, having been managing director of Tweeddale Press, then Johnston Press Regional Managing Director North East where he was responsible for 16 daily and weekly newspaper titles across North East England and the Scottish Borders.”

Bob returns to the Middlesbrough business two and a half years after being axed from Trinity Mirror in a previous shake-up.

He was MD of ncjMedia until March 2012 when he left the business along with his North West and North Wales counterpart Warren Butcher.

Said Steve: “Bob has a long and successful history with the Teesside business, first in commercial management and latterly as Managing Director of GMC and Regional MD of Trinity Mirror North East.

Bob, as I’m sure you are aware, lives and breathes Teesside and has established himself in the business community over a great many years. His local knowledge, commercial acumen and business connections will undoubtedly be of great value.”

14 comments

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  • November 21, 2014 at 4:18 pm
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    Great news for my old paper, the Evening Gazette. He’s Teesside through and through and it was always staggering that former Trinity Mirror bosses considered him dispensable. The U-turn by new regionals’ boss Steve Anderson-Dixon speaks volumes. I bet a cheer went through the offices in Borough Road, Middlesbrough today. Good luck, Bob!

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  • November 21, 2014 at 4:40 pm
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    Excellent news all round. Stuart & Bob are good guys.
    Also well done Steve AD – it’s good to see decisive action from a Trinity boss!

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  • November 21, 2014 at 4:42 pm
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    Looks like new regional boss might be the right person in the job.

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  • November 21, 2014 at 5:25 pm
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    Delighted for Bob. A brilliant appointment and a great way to end the week.

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  • November 22, 2014 at 12:41 am
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    Great to read about Stuart’s return to the industry. I agree with those noting he’s a good guy and there’s no question about Bob’s commitment to Teesside.

    However, Russell and both Brians are good guys too. I firmly believe Trinity North East will be a poorer business without them.

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  • November 22, 2014 at 9:05 pm
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    Bob has a reputation as a good honest chap who is popular with colleagues. But does TM know what it’s doing? They get rid of Bob, presumably giving him a big pay-off, bring Russell back, then get rid of Russell and Bob comes back – not the sign of a business that knows where it’s heading.

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  • November 22, 2014 at 9:39 pm
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    So the departure of Russell Borthwick and the Two Brian’s was nothing to do with restructure of the Regionals as they have been replaced! TM reinventing the wheel again!

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  • November 24, 2014 at 9:24 am
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    Err….. is not going from 3 MD’s to 7 not a restructure? I like the idea of local MD’s back in the business and colleagues on Teesside are delighted. Instead of merely being a satellite office to Newcastle and getting a visit from time to time they have someone permanent to support and lead the business.

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  • November 24, 2014 at 10:32 am
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    Wonder if we’ll see the return of ‘Off the Cuffe’? Sounds like good news for ncjmedia and Gazette Media but this constant merry-go-round of corporate structure shows that neither Bob or Steve Brown should have been sacked or moved in the first place.

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  • November 24, 2014 at 1:43 pm
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    Best of luck to both Stuart and Bob. True newspaper professionals and thoroughly decent individuals

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  • November 25, 2014 at 1:21 pm
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    Good news for the Gazette. Bob Cuffe is that rare thing – a newspaper MD who genuinely understands news. His column in The Journal was very decent, too.

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