A former Archant advertising executive has joined a family-owned newspaper publisher in the role of managing director.

James Gurney, 38, has been appointed MD of the Newbury Weekly News group, based in Berkshire.

The move comes four months after James left Norfolk-based Archant after two years as commercial director.

The company said at the time that he was leaving because he had been unable to sell his family home in Derbyshire and had opted to return to the area

Since leaving Archant, father-of-two James, pictured, has been working as a consultant to regional publisher Local World.

He takes over at NWN from Adrian Martin, who left at the end of December after 12 years as MD.

Said James:  “I am excited to be coming to Newbury and to be joining such a well-known and long-established family business.

” I am looking forward to working with the local community and helping to strengthen our businesses still further in the future.

“The success within Newbury News Limited is very much down to the team working in it and I am very much looking forward to working with them and working towards even greater success in the future.”

Chairman of Newbury News Limited, Jeremy Willis, added: “Adrian Martin departs Newbury with our best wishes and great appreciation for what he has achieved with our company over the last 12 years.

“He has led us through major changes in our format, guided us through a recession, installed a new press and seen through many other major activities over his years of loyal service.

“He leaves the company on a solid footing for his replacement James Gurney whom in which we have confidence can pick up the reins and steer our publishing and printing business into the future.”