Roger Watkins, currently managing editor of the four-edition Brentwood Gazette, has been appointed to a newly-created position of editor-in-chief of Courier Newspapers in Tunbridge Wells.

Roger will take up his new position on Monday, September 19, and will be responsible for all editorial activities at the Courier.

The former Daily Express chief sub-editor, night editor, assistant editor, and journalism lecturer said: “I have greatly enjoyed my five years as editor and managing editor of the Gazette series.

“I shall miss my close and supportive colleagues there but I greatly look forward to the different challenges facing me in my new role and working with such a professional team in Kent.”

The editors of the Kent and Sussex Courier, Sevenoaks Chronicle and East Grinstead Courier will all report to Roger.

Group managing director Michael Pelosi said: “I know Roger is looking forward to taking up this new position. We wish him every success.”

Under Roger, the Gazette series underwent a re-branding exercise, during which the previous mastheads for the Brentwood Gazette, Billericay and Wickford Gazette, Ongar and North Weald Gazette and the Harold Gazette, were standardised with the word Gazette dominating.