The Evening Express in Aberdeen has appointed Damian Bates as deputy editor and Jonathan Lee and Richard Prest as assistant editors.

Damian, (34), is currently assistant editor of Telegraph & Argus, Bradford, where he is responsible for both news and features.

He was formerly news editor of the T&A, deputy news editor of the Portsmouth News, and crime reporter and deputy business editor of the Middlesbrough Evening Gazette.

As assistant editor of the T&A he helped the newspaper win Yorkshire Newspaper of the Year with his award winning coverage of the Bradford riots.

Jonathan, (36), joins from The Gazette, Blackpool, which was named UK Newspaper of the Year in the Newspaper Society Awards and North West Newspaper of the Year. During his two years as assistant editor the paper became the fastest growing circulation of an evening title in Britain.

He has also been head of sport and features, worked as sports editor and run the newsdesk as well as deputising as acting editor in the editor's absence.

Jonathan is returning to the Evening Express where he worked as a feature writer in 1995 before moving to a similar role on the Evening News in Edinburgh. Previously he was assistant editor of the Westmorland Illustrated and features editor of the Westmorland Gazette.

Richard Prest, (29), is currently the Evening Express news editor and has been covering for both the editor and deputy editor in their absence.

He was formerly chief reporter and crime reporter before stepping up the management ladder.

Editor Donald Martin said: "I am delighted to have such a strong and talented team in place.

"It will help the Evening Express continue our sales and readership success".

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