An award-winning journalist has been appointed to the role of chief business reporter at a regional daily.

Shelina Begum, left, has taken up the post at the Manchester Evening News, where she has worked on the newspaper’s business desk for five years.

Previously Shelina was reporter, then chief reporter of the Asian News and editor of Asian News online in 2007.

She is also a former North West Journalist of the Year and has been highly commended at the Newspaper Society awards.

Shelina will be spearheading coverage of business matters in print and online and will take a leading role in representing MEN Media at business events.

Editor Rob Irvine said: “Shelina brings a wealth of experience and talent to the role along with a fantastic contacts book.

“She is well-known and highly respected across the Greater Manchester business community and has tracked the growth of many successful new companies in the region since they started up.”

Other recent job moves in the regional press include the following:

• Liz Bond has been appointed publisher of Newsquest Somerset. Liz, previously publisher at Newsquest Basingstoke and Andover, replaces Simon Dixon-Phillip, who is returning to Falmouth as managing director of Newsquest Cornwall.
• Martin King has been appointed as sports editor of the independently owned Stratford-upon-Avon Herald. Martin was previously deputy sports editor at the Northampton Chronicle and Echo.
• The Surrey Advertiser’s deputy sports editor Chris Dyke has left the newspaper. A replacement has not been appointed.
• Samantha Booth has joined the Croydon Advertiser as a reporter. Samantha joins from the nationwide news agency SWNS.
• Gloucester daily The Citizen has appointed Ellis Lane to the role of trainee reporter.

On the move yourself? Email [email protected] with the details.