One of the longest serving daily editors in the regional press has announced he is to leave his role at the end of the month.

Gerry Keighley, left, has edited the South Wales Argus since 1994 and is also regional managing editor for Newsquest Wales & Gloucestershire.

It was announced today that he is to leave his post in a fortnight’s time, on 29 February.

He will be succeeded by one of his former deputies at the Argus, Kevin Ward, currently publisher for Newsquest East Wales & Gloucestershire.

Said Gerry:  “I’ve been extremely lucky to run the Argus for so long and to manage some fantastic people, many of whom have gone on to bigger and better things.

“Editing a daily paper is a unique privilege. You have good times and bad times but it’s never boring.

“I will be terribly sad to leave some talented and hard-working people behind and I’d like to place on record my undying thanks to all those who have worked with me and for me over the years.

“I want to try my hand at something different now and see if there really is life after newspapers.”

Among the campaigns Gerry has led during his tenure  was a successful battle to streamline compensation to ailing miners and their widows, which helped release up to £2bn to victims and their families.

Under Gerry the paper also campaigned strongly for city status for Newport and Gerry was a member of the committee which led the town’s successful bid to be upgraded to a city in 2002.

He sat on the boards of Newport’s town centre partnership and the urban regeneration company Newport Unlimited and is currently a governor of the University of Wales Newport, and a director of South Wales Chamber of Commerce and the Centre for Business.

For the past 10 years he has been a trustee and director of South Gwent Children¹s Foundation, which opened a £10m treatment centre for disabled children after years of fundraising in 2011.

Regional managing director of Newsquest Wales, Gloucestershire and Midlands South, Gavin Steacy said: “I would like to thank Gerry for his years of loyal service to the Argus.

“He informed me recently of his decision to leave the company but agreed to stay in post while I formulated a succession plan. We all wish him well in his new ventures.”

Kevin, a former editor of the Worcester News, has been appointed both editor of the Argus and regional managing editor.

He takes up his new post on 1 March.