John Robertson, of the Newbury Weekly News, is set to become the new vice-president of The Newspaper Society, a role which will lead to him becoming president next year.

John is chairman of Newbury Weekly News and group managing director of its parent company, Blacket Turner.

Subject to an AGM vote in June, he will succeed Tim Bowdler as president in July 2003. Tim Bowdler is due to take over from Society president Edwin Boorman in July.

In line for presidency

John (left) has been involved in the newspaper industry since 1968 when he began work as accountant with the East Anglian Daily Times.

He joined EMAP as company secretary and then served as director and general manager of West Norfolk Newspapers for four years before becoming managing director of Oxley & Son (Windsor) Ltd, an independent printing and publishing company, proprietor of the Windsor, Slough and Eton Express.

In 1985 he was appointed managing director of Newbury Weekly News (Printers) Ltd, an independent, privately owned publisher of the Newbury Weekly News Group titles.

In 1997 he was appointed group managing director of Blacket Turner & Co Ltd and chairman of its subsidiary companies.

Blacket Turner is the family-controlled holding and investment company which owns Newbury Weekly News (Printers) Ltd, and has several property and trade investments.

John is due to step down from his current full-time executive position in June 2002 but will remain with the Newbury Weekly News and Blacket Turner as part-time deputy chairman.

A new president is elected from the Newspaper Society membership every year, in July.

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