The editor of Britain’s second biggest regional daily has left the title after four years in charge in a move which sees his role merged with that of a sister paper.

Damian Bates’s departure from Aberdeen’s Press & Journal comes after 15 years in total with DC Thomson-owned Aberdeen Journals, which also includes the Evening Express.

Richard Neville, who edits the P&J’s Dundee-based stablemate The Courier, will now add the Aberdeen title to his portfolio in an expanded role as editor-in-chief for the company’s morning newspapers.

Damian, pictured above left, had edited the P&J since 2013, and prior to that spent four years in charge at the Evening Express. He was appointed editor-in-chief of Aberdeen Journals in 2013.

Damian will retain links with DC Thomson as chairman of the Fifth Ring communications agency, in which the company is a a major investor.

P&J staff were informed of Damian’s departure on Wednesday in Aberdeen by Mike Watson, managing director of DC Thomson.

According to a story in the P&J, Damian had “decided that the time was right for him to take up new career and business opportunities.”

He said: “I arrived in Aberdeen with the firm view that I’d stay two years and move on again; 15 years later I’m still here. The north of Scotland has become my home and Aberdeen Journals has been a massive part of my life.

“Having been editor of the newspapers for almost 10 years, I’ve worked with and met some fabulous people and had some incredible experiences, but I know I now want to use my skills in other areas and challenge myself in new ways.”