Two editors have stepped up to fill the void left by the departure of an independent publisher’s managing director.

Barrnon Media, which runs newspapers the Cumberland & Westmorland Herald and Keswick Reminder, as well as news website Cumbria Crack, has announced MD John Holliday has left the business.

As a result, group editor Emily Atherton, digital editor Nicole Regan and advertising director Sarah White will now report directly to Barrnon Media owner Andy Barr.

Emily has a 30-year-plus association with the Herald in a variety of roles and took up its editorship in 2019 – with Barnnon’s titles since being highly commended three times in industry awards.

From left: Barrnon Media advertising director Sarah White, digital editor Nicole Regan and group editor Emily Atherton

Nicole, who has 24 years of industry experience, has led the Cumbria Crack team to double its audience in the past two years, while Sarah has over 30 years in the commercial end of media and has led her team in Barnnon for the past two years.

In a joint statement, they said: “These are exciting times for us as a company. Working with Andy Barr we are looking at growth, strength and seeking out new opportunities to take this multimedia business forward.

“With two legacy print tiles and a ferociously successful breaking news website, we are all about putting independent news at the heart of the community and delivering the best in local news and commercial solutions.

“There are exciting projects and big moves ahead for the company, so watch this space.”