Editor of The Citizen, Ian Mean, has been appointed editor-in-chief of Gloucestershire Media, which publishes The Citizen and the Gloucestershire Echo, The Forester and www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk.

He will remain at the helm of The Citizen where he took over five years ago with the editor of the Gloucestershire Echo Anita Syvret and the editor of The Forester Viv Hargreaves reporting to him.

His appointment brings Gloucestershire Media’s editorial structure into line with the other centres across Northcliffe West & Wales. Ian will continue to report to Northcliffe’s west regional editorial director Mike Norton.

Ian said he relished the challenges ahead in 2008 and was looking forward to his new role which was effective from Tuesday.

He said: “We have some great newspapers at the heart of Gloucestershire and I believe it is important that we get even closer to the communities we serve.”

Mike Norton said Ian’s appointment would not affect the integrity of the individual newspapers.

He said: “It will give us the clear management and reporting structure which will allow us to take certain strategic editorial decisions.”