A long-serving divisional managing director in the Local World regional publishing group is to take early retirement after 26 years with the company.

Mark Price was MD of LW’s Lincolnshire based subsidiaries Grimsby and Scunthorpe Media Group, publishers of the Grimsby Telegraph and Scunthorpe Telegraph, and Lincolnshire Media, which publishes the Lincolnshire Echo.

Now he has left to pursue personal ambitions and spend more time with his family with his role set to disappear.

Hull Daily Mail publisher Mike Pennington is to take responsibility for Scunthorpe and Grimsby while Lincolnshire publisher Richard Duxbury, who previously reported to Mark, will assume control of the Echo and its sister titles.

Said Mark:  “I have been privileged to work with some fantastic people along the way. I thank each and every one of them for their support, comradeship and loyalty – I will never forget them.

“I am proud to have been a part of this great industry and wish Local World and all of our staff, customers and readers the very best for the future.”

Mike Pennington said:  “I am delighted at the opportunity that has been given to me. I am very passionate about the region and to add Grimsby and Scunthorpe to the portfolio is very exciting and will add even greater value to the region’s proposition for both our customers and readers in print and online.

“Local world is a very exciting ‘new world’ and I think with the talented staff we have both on the north and south banks we can also be the ‘new media world’ within the Humber region.”

Local World chief executive Steve Auckland added: “Mark has made a significant difference to the business and his creativity and flair will be missed.”