Former Yorkshire Post editor Tony Watson has been appointed editorial director of The Press Association.

In the newly created role the former regional press journalist, who joined the news agency last year as head of business development, will be responsible for the commercial and strategic development of the company’s editorial services.

Tony

This will include customer liaison, planning, developing video news content and chairing the operational agency board.

Editor Jonathan Grun will remain in total charge of wire services, editorial standards and integrity and both Tony and Jonathan will report to Paul Potts as editor-in-chief.

Three further new appointments have also been made within the agency’s Enterprises division, which is currently expanding on the services it provides in the key areas of sport, entertainment and information for business.

Chris Buckley has been appointed managing director, PA Sport, in addition to his existing role of group commercial director.

Chris

Chris joined PA in 1996 after working as a journalist and sports editor at various regional newspapers, and has been an executive director on The Press Association main board since January 2002.

In his new role he will continue to steer the sports division through its evolution into an international sports agency and focus on its relationships with sports governing bodies.

At PA Entertainment Jennie Campbell has been appointed to the newly created post of managing director, and will bring together the TV and event listings, features and celebrity photos operations into one business catering for the demand for all forms of entertainment content.

Jennie

Jennie joined PA in 1996 when the company acquired Listings Ltd, an independent company supplying page-ready information services to the press, where as operations director she was a key member of a team who built the successful business before it was sold to PA.

Ian Campbell has been appointed as head of PA information for business and will manage the newly created division.

Ian

Ian joined PA earlier this year when the company acquired Lovelacemedia Limited where he was a director.

Prior to joining Lovelacemedia, Ian had been deputy managing director of Northcliffe Electronic Publishing.

Paul Potts, chief executive and editor-in-chief at PA, said: “This restructuring of the group’s management is key to realising the growth we believe possible while remaining totally committed to our core editorial mission and agencyservices.

“Sport, entertainment and information for business are areas where The Press Association’s ‘fast, fair and accurate’ brand can work harder and the managing directors will have substantial autonomy in the way they run their businesses in order to achieve this.”

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