The recently-crowned regional editor of the year has been promoted to be managing director of his newspaper business in a company reshuffle.
Steve Hall, editor of the Derby Telegraph for the past seven years, is to take over as MD of the Northcliffe daily from 2 July.
He succeeds Michelle Gesell, who is moving to sister title the Stoke Sentinel as managing director in succession to Tim Saunders.
Northcliffe said that Steve, who won the editor of the year prize at last month’s Regional Press Awards, would continue to set the editorial strategy for the Telegraph.
Executive director Rich Mead said: “It’s great both of these are internal appointments demonstrating we can develop people within the business to take on more responsibility and bigger roles.
“Steve was recently named editor of the year at the 2012 Regional Press Awards. I know he will do a great job getting the whole business to work closely together to produce quality print and digital products for both readers and advertisers.
“Michelle has done a fantastic job over the last three years in Derby. She has risen through the ranks at Northcliffe and will bring invaluable commercial experience to both Stoke and Central Independent Newspapers.”
Steve joined Northcliffe in 1986 as a reporter on the Derby Telegraph and edited the Exeter Express and Echo before his appointment in 2005 as editor in Derby.
Michelle whose new brief will also include Tamworth-based CIN, has held a number of senior roles in Hull, Stoke and more recently Derby.
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Well I suppose that if you can hang around long enough!
I love the bit about developing people – he means the few that are left I think!
Anyway good luck to Michelle as at least she does understand the local press.
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Great news. Has shown other editors how commercially-minded they now need to be. Good luck to him.
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Steve’s had several stints as stand-in MD at the DT already and must surely be the right man for the job… and it’ll save the Northcliffe bean-counters a few quid by paying one person’s salary instead of two!
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Top man, well trained at the start of his career!
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Er, excuse me but where has Tim Saunders gone,sacked or moved to another job? I worked with Tim at the Nottingham Post, decent bloke!
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Tim Saunders did appear to be a decent bloke. I new him for a number of years.
Straight from market research in Notts to deputy MD in the South West and then the top job at Stoke. Did well while it lasted.
His exit appears to have been rather swift!
It looks to me that he has left the company full stop.
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