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Regional MD takes early retirement

Eric Robinson, one of Newsquest’s most senior executives, has taken taken early retirement after a distinguished career spanning more than 30 years.

He had been regional managing director for Newsquest Southern, which publishes the Daily Echo in Bournemouth, the Southern Daily Echo and the Dorset Echo as well as several weekly titles in Dorset and Hampshire, for the past four years.

During an eventful working life Eric, (54), has at various times been a plumber, policeman and a window cleaner.

He first entered the newspaper publishing business in 1969 as a classified sales representative with the Evening Gazette in Middlesborough.

After a seven year break working in the music business and insurance market he re-entered the publishing industry in 1982 as a sales representative with the North East Times Series, part of Reed Regional Newspapers.

He progressed to the position of advertisement director in 1987, responsible for titles sweeping from Middlesborough to Newcastle.

Eric (pictured) then held the post of managing director of Auto Trader South West for two years before rejoining Reed Regional as group development director. Among other projects he was involved in launching a group motor magazine.

In 1994 he joined Essex County Newspapers, which became Newsquest Essex following the acquisition of Westminster Press Basildon and was regional managing director for five years responsible for two daily newspapers, the Evening Echo and the Evening Gazette, as well as weekly paid and free newspapers covering the whole of Essex.

A director on the Newsquest Media Group operating board, Eric was regional managing director for the London region before taking up his post at Newsquest Southern.

He said: “I count myself very fortunate to have worked with some of the most talented professionals in this business.

“I’ll particularly miss the people, many of whom have not just been colleagues but friends.

“I wish Paul Davidson, Newsquest’s chairman and chief executive, and the company every success for the future.”

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