An editorial chief poached after a regional publisher boasted of its aim to attract the “best digital talent” has been made redundant after 13 months.

Katie Brooks has announced her departure from National World, where she served as group search engine optimisation editor.

Katie, pictured, was poached from Newsquest, where she was SEO and affiliates lead, last summer.

At the time, National World cited Katie’s appointment as an example of its commitment to recruiting the “best digital talent in the industry”.

She is the latest senior departure in group-wide cuts that the National Union of Journalists claimed last week has caused at least 45 editorial staff to leave the business.

HTFP reported on Tuesday how Katie’s deputy Andrew Quinn had also left the business after 16 years of service.

Posting on Twitter on Tuesday lunchtime, Katie wrote: “I’ve taken the difficult decision to leave National World after 13 months heading up SEO across the group.

“We achieved so much and I’m incredibly proud to have worked with a group of editors and reporters who broke audience records every month.

“It’s a been privilege to watch every single one develop and I look forward to seeing them all excel in their careers.

“I also want to thank the newsrooms who we worked with and who trusted us to experiment with content and new strategies. I loved every single second.

“I’m now on gardening leave for the next couple of months while I work out what the future holds and look for new opportunities – if anyone is looking for an experienced editor, leader and audience specialist then hit me up.

“In the meantime I certainly won’t be bored because I’m going to be volunteering at our local cat rescue, Iris’s Cats Home, every week cleaning and taking care of the cats and kittens.”

Katie began her regional press career in October 2018 as a trends writer with Reach’s Birmingham Live website.

She joined Newsquest in March 2020, serving as regional audience and content editor for the Midlands, Somerset, East and West Wales before taking up her most recent role from August 2021 onwards.