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Editor becomes one of UK’s youngest as he takes on news site aged 26

Ryan smithA regional journalist has become one of the UK’s youngest editors after taking on a city news website aged 26.

Belfast Live has announced the appointment of Ryan Smith to the role, making him, according to Reach plc, the youngest editor of a major news brand in Northern Ireland in the process.

Ryan, pictured, takes over from Chris Sherrard after his promotion to audience and content director for Reach in Ireland.

The move marks a return to Belfast for Ryan, who worked there prior to becoming content editor at Reach’s MyLondon website in March.

He said: “I’m incredibly proud and excited to be returning home to take on the role of editor of Belfast Live.

“The first five years of Belfast Live have been exceptional and we’ve big plans for how we can take it to the next level.

“I’m delighted to be rejoining an incredible team across editorial, creative and commercial where we put our readers at the heart of what we do.

“As editor I’ll work to ensure that Belfast Live continues to be the go-to place for the people of Northern Ireland where they know they’ll find everything from news, sport to what’s on – and importantly a voice that accurately represents them.”

Ryan started his career as a reporter with the Fermanagh Herald in 2012 before moving to Belfast Live and the Daily Mirror Northern Ireland in 2015.

He worked as a reporter for close to five years before moving to London.

Nathan Hanna will continue in his role as Belfast Live’s deputy editor, while Sheena McStravick, who was acting deputy editor, will lead ‘Be’, Belfast Live’s new female lifestyle brand that launched in June this year.

Chris said: “It’s great to have Ryan back at Belfast Live after his spell with MyLondon where he played a huge part in growing the site to the standard it’s at now.

“But it’s at Belfast Live where I have witnessed some of his best work and where I know he’ll further transform the brand by harnessing the power of our collective across editorial and commercial to make sure our site remains the number one commercial publisher in Northern Ireland.

“I would also like to use this opportunity to thank deputy editor Nathan Hanna, who has performed admirably in leading the team for the past year and I look forward to continuing to work closely with both of them.”