A new chief executive has been appointed to lead a publishing group which includes four regional dailies.

Phil Inman, left, who is currently managing director of the Midland News Association, will take over as chief executive of parent company the Claverley Group next April.

He replaces current chief executive Graham Evers who will retire from the role at the end of March, although he will continue as group deputy chairman.

The Claverley Group includes the MNA, which publishes the Express & Star, Shropshire Star and sister weekly titles in the Midlands, and Channel Islands company Guiton Publishing, which owns the Jersey Evening Post and Guernsey Press, which is currently celebrating its 200th anniversary.

It also includes the Telford-based general printing company Precision Colour Printing and Wolverhampton-based publishing software development company Press Computer Systems.

Phil, who joined MNA two years ago, has been appointed to the Claverley Board with immediate effect and will be responsible for all the group’s publishing activities.

He said: “I am delighted to be appointed to this role and look forward to supporting the managing directors as they take their individual businesses forward.”

He will retain the position of MNA managing director after next March.