Michael Beard has been appointed as group editor at Newsquest Sussex.

The move means he becomes editor of The Argus and takes overall charge at several more titles.

Michael, (left), takes the reins after Simon Bradshaw left in October after six years in the post.

Currently group editor for the Johnston Press Observer series in East Sussex, Michael, (44), has previously served as assistant editor on the Western Daily Press and the Plymouth Evening Herald.

Martyn Willis, managing director of Newsquest (Sussex), said in a memo to staff: "We have taken a lot of care to find the right person to take our products, and in particular The Argus, forward into a new era for Newsquest Sussex.

"I believe we have found in Michael Beard a man with the experience, vision and dynamism to lead our team of quality journalists to successfully serve the widest possible community in the city of Brighton & Hove and Sussex as a whole, with newspapers of which we can be hugely proud."

Titles published by Newsquest (Sussex) include The Argus, Brighton; Brighton & Hove Leader; South Coast Leader; Mid Sussex Leader, Property News Series and Scoop.

Deputy editor Pat Lewis has been in the role of acting editor of The Argus since Simon left.

In the past year, the paper has been named Daily Newspaper of the Year in the annual Newsquest editorial awards and was also named Evening Newspaper of the Year at the Press Gazette-backed Regional Press Awards 2003.

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