Tim Blott has been appointed regional managing director of Newsquest (Strathclyde), the former publishing arm of SMG.

He will take over the running of the Glasgow-based business on Monday.

Prior to this he has most recently been responsible for Newsquest centres in the North East, York, Bradford, and the digital media operation.

Tim (right) joined the company as a trainee reporter in 1975. He went on to work as a senior journalist in various divisions including Bradford, Darlington, High Wycombe and finally Oxford, where he was promoted from editor of the Oxford Mail to acting managing director.

Tim returned to Bradford as managing director in February 1996 and became regional managing director of Lancashire, Bradford and Kendal in May 2000, prior to his appointment to the Newsquest main board in July 2001.

Newsquest's parent company, Gannett asked the Government for permission to buy SMG's publishing business in December, before the £216m deal was eventually agreed.

Newsquest is the UK's second largest regional publisher with more than 300 titles, including 15 dailies, and a weekly circulation/distribution of 10.6m copies published from ten print sites.

The group, which employs some 9,000 people, also has interests in leaflet distribution, magazine contract printing and magazine publishing.

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