Sly Bailey is become the new chief executive of Trinity Mirror.

Currently chief executive of IPC Media Ltd, Sly, (40), will take over from Philip Graf on February 3.

She said: “The chief executive role at Trinity Mirror is one of the key positions in UK media.

“Trinity Mirror is an ambitious and successful company with strong businesses, a clear growth strategy and enormous opportunities for further development.

“I’m absolutely thrilled at the prospect of leading the country’s biggest newspaper publisher, and I look forward to building on the strength of some of the most powerful brands in national and regional newspapers.”

She has been chief executive of IPC Media since December 1999, and successfully led discussions with AOL Time Warner that resulted in the sale of the company to Time Inc., the publishing division of AOL Time Warner, in July 2001 for £1.15bn.

Sly (right) joined IPC Media Ltd in 1989 as head of divisional classified advertising sales, joining the Board in 1994 as advertising director before being appointed managing director of IPC tx, the TV listings division, in 1997.

Sir Victor Blank, who is chairman of Trinity Mirror and headed a subcommittee to find a successor for Philip, said: “The appointment of Sly is tremendous for Trinity Mirror.

“She has a proven track record in building businesses and brands, excellent media credentials and will bring extra drive and vigour to our national and regional newspapers.

“We are very much looking forward to having her as part of the team and warmly welcome her to the Group.”

Trinity Mirror is the biggest newspaper publisher in the UK. Its regional titles include the Liverpool Post & Echo, Newcastle Chronicle and Journal, Middlesbrough Evening Gazette, the Western Mail & Echo, Birmingham Post & Mail, Coventry Evening Telegraph and Huddersfield Examiner.

The group also owns a share of Holdthefrontpage, together with Northcliffe and Newsquest.

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