A senior editorial chief has left a regional publisher after 17 years of service in which she edited several titles.

Reach plc has announced the departure of Jacqui Merrington, who has most recently served as discovery director of its ‘Live’ network of regional news websites, overseeing a search engine optimisation project aimed at boosting online readership.

Jacqui, pictured, has previously held other senior roles with Reach and its forerunners including the editorships of two Cornish weeklies, launch editor of the Cornwall Live website and audience and content director for the South-West of England.

Her departure was announced to staff yesterday in an internal memo from chief digital publisher David Higgerson, which has been seen by HTFP.

Reach has declined to confirm to us whether Jacqui’s role will be replaced, but David told staff in his memo that “backfill plans” will be announced shortly.

Jacqui, who began her career as PA’s East Midlands correspondent in 2002 before joining the Nottingham Post four years later as deputy news editor, will work her last day next Friday.

In the memo, David told staff: “After 17 years with us, Jacqui Merrington, discovery director for our Live network, has decided to leave Reach.

“Jacqui started her career with us on the newsdesk of the Nottingham Post, before heading to Cornwall as the first female editor of The Cornishman and its sister title The West Briton.

“In 2016 she became editor of Cornwall Live for its launch, where she led the digital transformation of the newsroom before taking on a wider brief across the South-West.

“Since then she’s taken on a central role and played a huge part in the development of the Live network and leadership of our audience strategy, working closely with newsrooms around the business to build audience plans and unearth and share best practice.

“Jacqui has also been an active leader driving forward Reach’s inclusion agenda, having launched our Grace newsletter, co-chaired the ReachEquality network, set up our newest inclusion network ReachSustainability and played a key role in implementing the Belonging Project across editorial.

“I know many of you will have worked with Jacqui over the years, so please join me in thanking her for her considerable contribution to the business and in wishing her the very best for her next chapter.

“Jacqui’s last day in the business will be 18 August and we’ll update you on backfill plans shortly.”