Former Helensburgh Advertiser editorial manager Julian Calvert has been elected chairman of the Society of Editors in Scotland.

His appointment marks the first time a chairman who is no longer an editor has been put in the role.

He was unanimously elected to the post at the society’s annual meeting in Glasgow, stepping up from vice-chairman to succeed Don Martin, editor of the Aberdeen Evening Express.

Julian is now a lecturer in journalism at Glasgow Caledonian University and is in his second year in the post.

He will play a key role in assisting the society’s UK president, Charles McGhee, who is editor of the Glasgow Evening Times, to organise the Society of Editors’ national conference in November next year.

Roy Scott, editor-in-chief of Johnston Newspapers Lothian, was elected vice-chairman.

Another former Helensburgh Advertiser man, Donald Fullarton, was re-elected secretary, and Drew Cochrane, of the Largs and Millport Weekly News, was re-elected treasurer.