Two new editors have been unveiled at former Local World dailies now owned by Trinity Mirror.
The company has announced George Oliver, left, will take over at the Leicester Mercury, while David Bartlett takes charge at the Cambridge News.
TM has described the pair as two of its “brightest talents”, with George currently executive editor at the Teesside Gazette and David executive editor of the Liverpool Echo.
George replaces Kevin Booth at the Mercury, while David takes over from Paul Brackley.
Both Kevin and Paul’s departures were announced within the space of 24 hours by TM in April.
Manchester Evening News editor Rob Irvine has since been in charge at Leicester on an interim basis.
George, 36, said: “I am proud to have been given the opportunity to edit a newspaper with the history and standing of the Leicester Mercury.
“I’m also very much looking forward to working with my new colleagues to continue the Mercury’s rapid development in digital publishing and audience growth.”
George worked at The Sentinel, Stoke, earlier in his career, and has been described by TM as a “key player in the Gazette achieving one of the highest pages-per-user figures in the regional press”.
Since Kevin’s departure, cuts have been announced to both the Mercury’s photographic and features departments.
Of his appointment David, 34, pictured left, said: “I’m hugely honoured to be taking up the position of editor-in-chief for the Cambridge News and its associated titles.
“It’s a really exciting time to be joining the Cambridge team and I look forward to helping grow the brands as we increase the focus on audience and digital growth.
“I’d like to thank all my colleagues in Liverpool who have been wonderful to work with for the past nine years. It has been a privilege, and I leave behind many good friends in the newsroom.”
During his time at the Echo David reported on stories including the release of previously unseen documents made public by the Hillsborough Independent Panel.
Prior to joining the Liverpool newsroom in 2007, David worked at the Lancashire Telegraph and the Preston Citizen.
Neil Benson, Trinity Mirror’s editorial director regionals, said: “David and George are two of our brightest talents, who have proved themselves to be equally skilled in the print and digital spheres.
“It is testament to the depth of talent within Trinity Mirror that in each case they came through as the best of an extremely strong field of candidates. I wish them every success in their new roles.”
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Congratulations and best of luck to both. Challenges will no doubt lie ahead, but that’s part of the game these days. Still plenty of fun in it.
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“I’m also very much looking forward to working with my new colleagues to continue the Mercury’s rapid development in digital publishing and audience growth.”
“I look forward to helping grow the brands as we increase the focus on audience and digital growth.”
True believers.
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Grrrreat…. Soooper !
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Yep, both mid-30s. Young enough for Trinity Mirror to get a decent few years out of them before they’re both suddenly shown the door.
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Apologies but the title executive editor is new to me. Is this what we called deputy editors in the past?
Cambridge is interesting. Iliffe is going gung-ho in setting up a rival to the Cambridge News – see mystery HTFP job adverts. Presumably they will be based in the print works. Love to find out more!
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No ‘blimey’
The word editor is deemed far too old school,the currently popular chosen word is ‘content’ as in content editor,chief content officer, director of content
Just means if you’ve got ‘editor’ in your job title you’re a marked man
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Is it David Bartlett or Sue Perkins?
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Many congratulations to both George and David. They’re talented and passionate journalists with that essential mix of skills from the past and skills for the present. It’s good to see bright talents given big opportunities.
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I’ve heard the Iliffe title is a typical low budget free pick up, mainly ads and filler editorial with more focus on the digital offering. Good luck to them,they’ll need it.
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So out with the newspaper dinosaurs and in with the digital dudes, it would seem.
It’s a good job that the digital sphere is oozing money, or this would seem a strange decision. Here’s to all the likes and retweets!
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Great news. George knows digital inside out, but/and is also a proper news man. Very good bloke, too. All the best.
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Do they really say these things when they get a new job? Every new editor on HTFP comes up with the same PR speak, with a dollop of digital guff thrown in. Very bland.
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@Local Media Watcher And the trinity mirror’s new free Cambridge weekly isn’t a low budget pick me up full of ads? (if it isn’t full of ads it’s because there’s no sales people left)
I think it’s the other way round, trinity mirror should be worried, Cambridge papers were so much better when it was iliffe
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