A deputy editor who missed out on the top job at one of Scotland’s biggest newspapers has become editor of a daily sister title.

Richard Neville, left, deputy editor of the Press and Journal, Aberdeen, is to edit the Dundee-based Courier, publisher DC Thomson has announced.

He succeeds Bill Hutcheon, who took early retirement from the Courier earlier this year after 42 years with the company.

Richard, 43, had been deputy to Derek Tucker at the Press and Journal since March 2003 but when Derek retired the top job went to Evening Express editor Damian Bates.

His appointment in Dundee was announced by Donald Martin, editor of the Sunday Post and editor-in-chief of DC Thomson newspapers.

“Richard will be responsible for leading the Courier team, working with Steve Bargeton as deputy editor, as we continue to modernise our newspapers and deliver an even better product for our core and target markets,” he said.

Richard, who will start his new role on 18 July, began his career as a reporter for the Edinburgh Evening News after graduating from Napier University in Edinburgh.

After spells at the Daily Record and The Press, York, he joined The Scotsman as news editor and then deputy editor before becoming editor of the specialist business title Business AM from 2000-2002.