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Media chief to retire

Richard Findlay, chief executive of media group Scottish Radio Holdings, is to retire later this year.

Richard, (60), who is also an executive director, will step down from his current role at the end of the financial year in September. He will retain a non-executive board position, with an additional advisory role.

Succeeding Richard as chief executive will be David Goode, who is currently managing director of the group’s radio operations.

Chairman Lord Gordon of Strathblane, said: “My tribute to Richard Findlay will properly form part of my report at the year end but at this stage I am delighted at his continuing involvement in the company, and that we have been able to recruit his successor from within our existing and experienced management team.”

The group, which publishes 45 local weekly newspapers in Scotland and Ireland including the Galloway Gazette, Stornoway Gazette, Ballymena Times, Ballymoney Times and Portadown Times, has announced an increase in group operating profit of 14 per cent, to £10.9m.

In its interim results for the half year to March 31, the group said its newspaper division, Score Press, continued to perform strongly, with divisional operating profits up ten per cent compared with the corresponding six month period of the previous year.

Advertising revenues for the division increased by seven per cent, with circulation revenues up six per cent.

It also said that early indications showed that the recently purchased Hebridean newspaper was performing ahead of initial expectations in terms of circulation.

Lord Strathblane said: “When taken against a strong first half last year, these results are particularly pleasing.

“The good revenue performance of the first six months in both radio and press has continued into the first few weeks of the second half, the performance of recent acquisitions will also have a beneficial impact, and we look forward to the rest of the year with confidence.”

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