Paul Horrocks, the editor of the Manchester Evening News, is set to be the next president of the Society of Editors after being nominated as vice-president.

The unanimous nomination by the Society’s board means that he will take over as president from Charles McGhee, editor of The Herald in Glasgow in November, subject to approval by the annual conference.

Paul, (52), has been a member of the Society’s board since 2002.

Bob Satchwell, executive director of the Society said "Paul is one of the most forward thinking editors around. He will be an excellent choice to take the Society upwards and onwards".

Paul has been editor of the Manchester Evening News since June 1997. He is also the editor in chief of Manchester Metro News.

He joined the Manchester Evening News in 1975 as a general news reporter. In September 1989 he was appointed news editor and was responsible for news investigations and campaigns. In July 1994 he was promoted to assistant editor and in March 1996 was again promoted to deputy editor.

He was a member of the Organising Committee for the Commonwealth Games Manchester 2002.

He is on the board of directors of the UK Society of Editors, vice president of the Community Foundation for Greater Manchester, patron of Francis House Children’s Hospice, member of the appeals board for Manchester’s new children’s hospital, a director of Midas (a not-for-profit organisation that provides free help and advice to companies who are relocating to Manchester) and director of Tatton Park Trust. He is also is a member of the Press Complaints Commission.

Charles McGhee said: "I am delighted Paul has accepted the vice president’s post – he was the unanimous choice of the SoE Board.

"As editor of the MEN, Paul has been a pioneer in cross-media initiatives and the principles of convergence have already been embraced in his Manchester operation. I look forward to working with him as we prepare for this year’s conference in Glasgow."