Regional publisher Local World has today named Stoke Sentinel editor Mike Sassi as the new editor of the Nottingham Post.

Mike, who lives in Nottinghamshire and has commuted daily to Stoke for the past seven years, succeeds Mel Cook who lost a six-month battle with cancer last month.

Former Essex Chronicle editor Alan Geere has been helping run the daily title as consultant editor since Mel’s death on 1 April along with deputy editor Charlie Walker.

Mike, who has also edited the Lincolnshire Echo in the course of a 25-year career, will take up his new role on 10 June.

The Post editorship represents one of the biggest challenges in the regional press industry with the paper having seen its circulation fall from 51,526 in 2008 to 29,085 in the most recent figures published in February.

However Mike, regarded as one of the industry’s big-hitters, says it is a challenge he is relishing.

He said: “I’ve hugely enjoyed the absolute privilege of editing The Sentinel for more than seven years. Having such tremendous and talented staff has made it a pleasure to come to work every day.

“I am relishing the challenge of editing the Nottingham Post. I’m confident I can help it achieve great success.”

Nottingham Post publisher Steve Hollingsworth added: “I am looking forward to an exciting and positive relationship with Mike, as the Nottingham Post capitalises upon its greater paginations, increased story counts and a new approach to print and online news gathering in Nottinghamshire’s communities.”

Mike, pictured, began his career at the Derby Telegraph in 1988 as a junior reporter, later moving to the Exeter Express & Echo and the South Wales Echo where he was news editor.

After returning to Derby as deputy editor in 1997, he was appointed editor of the Lincolnshire Echo in 1999, leaving in December 2005 to become editor at The Sentinel.

Local World said the process to appoint a new editor for The Sentinel will begin immediately.