Terry Hall has been appointed managing director of CN Group's publishing division.

He will take up the role on October 8, succeeding Chris Bisco who is due to retire at the end of December.

The group publishes the Carlisle-based News & Star and the North West Evening Mail in Barrow, as well as The Cumberland News, Whitehaven News, West Cumberland Times & Star, Hexham Courant, Cumbrian Gazette, The Advertiser, Cumbria Life, Business Gazette and Eskdale & Liddesdale Advertiser.

Terry said: "I'm pleased to be taking on this important role at an exciting time for our business.

"Ensuring we continue to serve local communities well with news, information, advertising and entertainment through our newspapers, internet sites or mobile phones is critical to our future success."

Terry has worked for the CN Group since 1981, and had been the advertisement director of Cumbrian Newspapers Ltd since 1998.

He was recently appointed managing director of Cumbrian Newspapers, a role he will continue to have, and he will also be appointed a director of CN Group.

Chief executive Robin Burgess said: "Terry has already shown himself to be an extremely competent executive and particularly in his take up of the multi media approach to publishing.

"I'm confident he will continue the successful development of our Publishing Division."

Chris Bisco will remain as a director and consultant until he retires in December.

He joined the CN Group in 2001 from Johnston Press (South) in Portsmouth.