Nottingham Post editor Malcolm Pheby is to retire in June after six years in the role, it was announced yesterday.

A regional press stalwart, Malcolm was in his third regional editorship having also previously edited both the East Anglian Daily Times and Ipswich Evening Star.

He said:  “I’ve spent six happy and eventful years editing the Nottingham Post. There have been challenging times, but good times too – not least raising £640,000 to build the Maggie’s cancer care centre in Nottingham.

“I feel it’s now time for a change, both for me and the newspaper. A new face will bring a different dimension to the superb team he or she will inherit. It has been a privilege to work with all my colleagues.”

The announcement of Malcolm’s departure follows a recent redesign of the paper which was unveiled earlier this month.

He will play an active part in the appointment of his successor before bowing out in the summer.

Steve Hollingsworth, Nottingham Post publisher said: “It’s a sad day for the Post and Nottinghamshire as a whole. Malcolm is not only a first-class journalist and communicator, but also plays a major role in the life of the city and county.

“I am glad that he is staying on to bed in the redesign, which has been very well received, as well as helping to establish our new content platforms.”

Steve Auckland, group managing director of owner Northcliffe Media added:  “Malcolm has made a significant impact on every job he’s undertaken.

“His career spanning national and local newspapers has witnessed many achievements and he can retire with the knowledge that he couldn’t have done any better.”

As well as his three regional editorships, Malcolm’s roles have included editorial director of Eastern Counties Newspapers (now Archant),  assistant editor of the Daily Express and managing director of Lincolnshire Echo Group Newspapers.

Under his editorship, the Nottingham Post won numerous awards including Midlands Newspaper of the Year and UK Newspaper website of the year.

Malcolm was originally appointed to the role in 2006 in succession to Graham Glen, having previously been the newspaper’s managing director.

He is the fifth Northcliffe Media editor to depart in the past year, following the Lincolnshire Echo’s Job Grubb, John Meehan of the Hull Daily Mail, Keith Perch of the Leicester Mercury and Marc Astley of the Exeter Express & Echo.