Kent Messenger Group senior editor Bob Dimond is to leave the company to become responsible for boosting Medway's role in the 2012 Olympics.

He takes the title of Medway 2012 Manager in mid-September, with responsibility for ensuring that Medway residents get the maximum benefit from London hosting the Olympic Games.

Bob, (42), edits the Medway Messenger, and used to edit the Dartford, Swanley and Gravesend Messengers. He retains an interest in those papers because community editor Denise Eaton is his wife.

He was appointed senior editor of Kent Messenger in 2004, taking over from Ron Green.

Bob, (pictured), began his journalism career as a trainee on the Bath Chronicle in 1983.

After training at the Editorial Centre in Hastings. He worked his way up to assistant editor before joining the York Evening Press as deputy editor in 1992.

In 1995 he became editor of the Evening Echo in Basildon before joining the Maidstone-based Kent Messenger Group in April 1997 as design editor of Kent Today. From there he became editor of the Gravesend Messenger in 1999, launched the Dartford Messenger the following year and went to be editor of Medway Today in April 2000.

Bob became senior editor for the whole of the North Kent region - covering Medway, Gravesend and Dartford - in 2001, launched the Friday edition of the Medway Messenger in September 2001 and oversaw the switch from the Medway Today to the bi-weekly Medway Messenger in April 2003.

He said: "The Kent Messenger is a marvellous company and I have made many wonderful friends. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here and would like to wish everyone my very best for the future.

"These are tremendously exciting times for Medway. I am looking forward to playing my part in the on-going regeneration of the area."

Bob's enthusiasm for sport includes taking part in half marathons. He makes regular gym visits and has studied sport at the University of Kent at Medway.