A former regional managing director at Trinity Mirror has been appointed to a new role with a media and marketing agency.

Russell Borthwick, left, was managing director of Trinity Mirror North East from March 2014 until last November when he departed in a senior management restructure.

He has now been appointed as a managing partner of Dentsu Aegis Network’s North-East operation, which is based in Newcastle.

Before joining Trinity Mirror, Russell set up and ran the Press Ahead agency for 10 years and had previously worked for the publisher as a regional marketing director for its NCJ Media division.

In his new role, Russell will aim to introduce new brands and services to the region.

He said: “This really is an exciting time for our team and is a sign that a global player in the media space views the North-East as being a market worthy of a significant presence and this kind of investment.

“We are very much looking forward to working with clients old and new across the North-East and beyond to provide global scale, customer insight and trading power backed up by exceptional local knowledge and client service.”

The Dentsu Aegis Network comprises brands including Carat Media, whose clients include Barker and Stonehouse, Intu Metrocentre, Sunderland College and the University of Sunderland.