An editor is returning to the industry after a four-month absence to take up a “dream job” at a regional daily title – but will not have oversight of its print content.

National World has announced the appointment of Vanessa Sims as the new editor of the Lancashire Post.

Vanessa, pictured, joins the Preston-based Post after revealing on New Year’s Day that she had left her role as regional group editor for Newsquest Cumbria.

However, she will be focused solely on the digital side of the Post’s operations – with decisions regarding the newspaper’s content now falling to National World’s Daily Press Division under publisher Tim Robinson.

Tim’s team are now also responsible for the placement of print content in the Yorkshire Evening Post, Edinburgh Evening News, Portsmouth News, Sunderland Echo, Shields Gazette, Blackpool Gazette and Sheffield Star.

Like Vanessa, the editors of each of those titles are all now focused on managing their companion websites rather than their print operations.

Vanessa, who takes up her new post next month, said: “I am really excited to be joining the National World team.

“I really can’t wait to start work with the talented digital reporters at the Lancashire Post and help build upon the great work already going on to grow digital audiences.

“This role is a dream job because it will allow me and my team to focus solely on our digital output, ensuring our digital storytelling is as good as it can be for our army of loyal readers.”

Vanessa’s appointment comes after National World announced plans to split the editorships of the Post and the Blackpool Gazette for a second time following two previous mergers of the roles.

The two titles’ outgoing editor Nicola Adam became publishing editor for Liverpool, Manchester, the North-West of England and Yorkshire in the same group-wide restructure that saw the creation of the Daily Press Division.

The group is still seeking a new editor for the Gazette.

Vanessa began her career at the Accrington Observer in 2007 and later moved to the Lancashire Telegraph, where she was crime reporter.

She spent seven months at the Blackpool Gazette before returning to the Blackburn-based Telegraph as deputy news editor in 2014.

Vanessa then had a six-month spell as content editor at the Post before returning to Blackburn as news editor.

She moved to The Mail in February 2018, where she was initially associate editor and later became Newsquest Cumbria’s group editor – taking responsibility for the Carlisle News & Star, five weeklies and a portfolio of magazines in the process.

It was announced in February last year she would be going on maternity leave, with former JPIMedia North-East editorial director Joy Yates joining Newsquest to take charge of its North Cumbria titles in her absence. Joy has since taken over as group editor at Newsquest Cumbria.