A regional daily editor is set to leave his role after four-and-a-half-years to head up the comms team at a university on its patch.

Keith Perry, who edits the Reach plc-owned Coventry Telegraph and its Coventry Live sister website, will leave the titles in the autumn.

Keith, pictured, is set to become head of communications (news and content) at Coventry University following his departure.

During his time in the editor’s chair he has spearheaded an ongoing campaign aimed at resolving an ownership controversy at Coventry City Football Club, which has now forced the team to play home games away from the city twice.

Keith’s stint in charge at Coventry has also seen strong growth in the title’s online audience with Coventry Live now achieving 11 million page views per month.

Before taking up his current role, Keith had previously served as sports editor at the Telegraph.

He briefly moved to the Birmingham Mail, where he was football editor, in October 2014, but returned to Coventry in February 2015 to take the top job.

Keith has also previously worked for the Derby Telegraph, Leicester Mercury, Sunday Mercury and freelanced for The Sun, Daily Mail and Daily Express.

Marc Reeves, Midlands editor-in-chief for Reach plc, said: “I’m immensely sad to see Keith go. He has proven himself to be a bold and forward thinking editor whose passion and belief in his team is matched only by the passion he feels for the city he has served so well.”

Keith said: “It has been an honour and a privilege to do this job and it will always be a source of great pride to me that the team here has achieved so much.

“I have enjoyed every minute and I am grateful to Marc for the opportunity and all the support I have received.

“Coventry is a wonderful city and I am delighted that I have been able to secure another fantastic opportunity here with Coventry University.”

Reach plc said an announcement about Keith’s replacement will be made in due course.