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Career break for Fowler as he exits Which?

An experienced former regional editor who took over the chair of Which? magazine three years ago has left his post, saying it is time for a “career break.”

Between 1985 and 2001 Neil Fowler, left, was successively editor of the Lincolnshire Echo, Derby Evening Telegraph, The Journal, Newcastle, and the Western Mail, Cardiff.

After a short spell runinng his own PR firm, he became CEO and publisher of the Toronto Sun.

He returned to British journalism as editor of the consumer rights magazine Which? in 2005 and oversaw a major revamp of the title the following year but has now quit.

“After 23 years of editing I am taking a career break. I want to take this opportunity to recharge my batteries and get fit. I might do some consultancy or whatever.”

Neil, 52, was one of the youngest daily editors of the country when he took over the Lincolnshire Echo in 1985 at the age of 29. He was president of the Society of Editors in 2000.

His longest stint as a regional editor was at the Western Mail between 1994 and 2001.

Towards the end of his spell in Cardiff he was also the joint managing director of Western Mail and Echo, now Media Wales.