Steve Hall has been unveiled as the new editor of the Derby Evening Telegraph.

Northcliffe Newspapers made the announcement following speculation on who would take the role after Mike Norton’s departure to take over as editor-in-chief at Bristol.

Steve (right) will join the Evening Telegraph on August 8, after almost eight years as editor of the Express and Echo in Exeter.

He told HoldtheFrontPage: “I’m delighted to be given the opportunity to edit my home town newspaper.

“At the same time I am sad to be leaving Devon after eight fantastic years here, both personally and professionally.

“The team here is as talented and committed as any I have worked with in my 23 years of journalism.”

Steve moved to Exeter after a spell as deputy editor of the Nottingham Evening Post.

He was previously assistant editor at the Derby Evening Telegraph, and before that chief sub and news editor.

Steve, (38), was also part of the team which set up and launched the national news agency UK News.

The Express and Echo has flourished under Steve’s stewardship, winning a string of awards and two years ago becoming the fastest growing evening newspaper in terms of circulation.

It was UK Evening Newspaper of the Year at last year’s Regional Press Awards and was Daily Newspaper of the Year at the 2001 South West BT Media Awards. Its current circulation is 25,627.

The paper Steve inherits is also an award-winner, scooping the award for Best Actively Purchased Sales Performace 2002-2004 and Front Page of the Year at the group’s Circulation, Editorial and Promotion Awards.

The Derby Evening Telegraph’s ABC figure stands at 49,412.

The reshuffle of Northcliffe editors follows the departure of David Gledhill at the Bath Chronicle and Mike Lowe of the Bristol Evening Post, and the impending retirement of Barrie Williams at the Western Morning News. The Bristol Evening Post’s deputy editor Stan Szecowka has also left.

More changes are expected as an efficiency project focusing on ways to save at least £20m a year gets under way.