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Business venture beckons for Echo editor

South Wales Echo editor Alastair Milburn is leaving the Cardiff-based newspaper to set up his own business.

The 35-year-old, who has edited the Echo for the past three years, plans to launch his own media and PR agency, advising businesses on how to maximise press coverage and training and advising newspaper staff.

He said: “I guess you could say it’s a case of poacher-turned-gamekeeper.

“I’m hoping to have the business up and running early next year and have a lot of hot irons in the fire.

“It was a huge decision. The Echo is a great paper – the biggest-selling regional in Wales – and it is also my home-town newspaper.

“It will be a big wrench but I have thought long and hard about this.

“There have been a lot of changes over the past three years and this seemed like a good opportunity to move into an area that I am excited by.”

Alastair has worked in newspapers for the past 16 years, starting out as a reporter on the South Avon Mercury in Clevedon.

Soon afterwards he joined the Western Mail where he worked his way up the ranks before joining Wales on Sunday as assistant editor.

He then returned to the Western Mail, this time as deputy editor, before being appointed editor of the South Wales Echo in January 2002.

Since joining the paper Alastair has overseen a wholesale redesign, cultivated more reader interaction and introduced a modern nostalgia section.

The changes earned the paper a string of gongs, which included Newspaper Society awards for Best Designed Regional Newspaper in Britain and Local Newspaper Best Initiative.

Alastair said: “I’ve had three great years and have achieved a lot. The time is right for a new challenge.”

Keith Dye, managing director of Western Mail & Echo Ltd, said: “Alastairhas been editor of the South Wales Echo since January 2002 and has done a tremendous job revitalising the paper.

“His view is that having put together a talented team delivering a great product, he now wants to move on to another challenge in life. The recruitment process for a successor to Alastair will begin shortly.”

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