Mark Dodson is to become the new chief executive of Guardian Media Group’s Regional Newspaper Division.

Currently chief executive of the Cheshire & Lancashire group of weekly newspapers, he will take on his new role in October, succeeding Ian Ashcroft.

The division includes the Manchester Evening News and the Manchester Metro News, together with more than 40 other paid-for and free titles published from Berkshire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Surrey.

GMG chief executive Sir Robert Phillis said: “I am delighted that our succession planning within the Group has resulted in Mark being selected from a very strong field of candidates for this senior position in GMG.”

Mark began his career with Thomson Regional Newspapers before joining The Guardian, and also worked for Reed Regional Newspapers before returning to GMG in 1988.

He said: “I am looking forward to the prospect of succeeding Ian Ashcroft as chief executive of GMG’s Regional Newspaper Division and to building on his success.

“It is an exciting and challenging period in the division’s history as we face a number of important challenges in publishing, on the web and in digital broadcasting and I am looking forward to leading our talented and dedicated staff to continued success and profitability in the future.”