The parent company of the Jersey Evening Post has announced the retirement of the paper’s managing director after 14 years.

Jerry Ramsden, who will be 60 in April, is to be succeeded by Paul Carter, a former advertisement director of the daily title.

Mr Ramsden came to Jersey from his native Plymouth where he was a senior manager for Northcliffe Newspapers.

Two years after his arrival, the JEP’s publishers the Guiton Group bought the Guernsey Press and Mr Ramsden assumed responsibility for the daily titles on both islands.

He said: “I am very proud to be leaving two newspapers that are still read by 7.5 out of ten adults in each island.

“The newspaper industry has gone through huge change and the readership of many regionals has been decimated. However, ours are still the number one place for advertising for jobs, property and cars.”

Guiton Group chairman and chief executive John Averty added: “The board wishes to express its appreciation to Jerry Ramsden for the way that he has led the group’s publishing division for over 14 years, ensuring that our two daily newspapers remain the number one media in their respective islands.”

Mr Ramsden now intends to spend more time enjoying his passion for boating. He owns a fisher/cruiser vessel in which both he and wife Pat regularly enjoy weekends away.

Mr Carter, 48, is a former deputy managing director and commercial director of the Express and Star, Wolverhampton, which, like Guiton, is part of the Claverley Group.

He has also worked as advertisement director for the Trinity Mirror-owned Birmingham Post and Mail.