Regional publisher Local World has moved to bring the former Iliffe News and Media titles in the Midlands within the structure of the former Northcliffe papers in the region.

The Iliffe and Northcliffe businesses were merged at the start of this year to form Local World but until now the former Iliffe papers have operated as a separate division within the company.

Now they are to be brought under the management of LW’s Derby and Stoke operations with the managing directors of those centres taking on expanded roles.

It means Steve Hall, MD of the Derby Telegraph, will now have additional responsibility for the Burton Mail, Ashbourne News Telegraph and Uttoxeter Post and Times.

Meanwhile Michelle Gesell, MD at Stoke, will take on the Leek Post and Times, Black Country Bugle, Nuneaton News and Staffordshire Newsletter in addition to The Sentinel and Tamworth Herald.

The changes follow the recent ruling by the Office of Fair Trading giving the go-ahead to the merger.

Most of the wachdog’s investigations centred on the position of the former Iliffe daily the Burton Mail

Historically it was a rival to the Derby Telegraph, although there is now very little overlap between the two titles’ core circulation areas.

Local World chief executive Steve Auckland said: ‘It is great news that we can announce expanded roles for both Michelle and Steve. They are two great operators who can finally lead our integration in the Midlands and ensure we have the very best local media businesses moving forward.”

Steve and Michelle take on their new responsibilities on the 29 July 2013. Until this date, Fiona Shaw will continue to run the former Iliffe businesses and will have “a key role” during the integration.