Former Bristol Evening Post editor Mike Lowe has been appointed editor-in-chief of the Midlands and Mid-West divisions of Archant Life.

He joined the company earlier this year as editor of Cotswold Life, and will continue in that role as well as overseeing Life publications in Staffordshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Warwickshire, Birmingham, Worcestershire, Hampshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Dorset.

Paul Bates, regional MD of Archant Life, said: "Mike has brought a wealth of experience and energy to Archant Life.

"He will champion editorial quality and integrity, working closely with editorial colleagues, thus ensuring our Life titles continue to be market leaders across all of our chosen markets."

Mike resigned from his role as editor and director of Northcliffe's Bristol Evening Post in June 2005.

He had been at the paper since 1996, and had worked for Northcliffe for more than 20 years, joining as a sports writer in Lincoln, and later working at the Hull Daily Mail and The Sentinel in Stoke-on-Trent.

He had also edited The Citizen in Gloucester and the Derby Evening Telegraph.