Former Trinity Mirror chief executive Philip Graf has joined Archant's board of directors as a non-executive.

The group publishes the Ipswich Evening Star, Norwich Evening News, Eastern Daily Press and East Anglian Daily Times as well as more than 85 weekly titles, and Philip will help the board develop the business.

The move marks his return to the newspaper industry, having stepped down from his role at Trinity Mirror in 2002.

Philip said: "I am very pleased to be joining such a strong team at Archant, at a time of great change and challenge for the industry.

"I look forward to playing my part in helping the board develop the business."

Archant chairman Richard Jewson said: "We are delighted that Philip [pictured right] has decided to join us.

"He brings with him a depth of industry knowledge and experience in the regional press, digital media and regulatory matters that will complement and further strengthen the board."

Philip, who is deputy chairman of Ofcom, joined the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo in 1983, which became Trinity International Holdings in 1985, and subsequently became chief executive in 1993.

He became chief executive of Trinity Mirror Group when the company merged with the Mirror Group in 1999, and led the transformation of a medium sized regional newspaper group into the UK's largest newspaper group, combining national and regional titles.