A regional newspaper boss who appointed some of the industry’s most legendary editors has died at the age of 88.

Ian Park, left, was managing director of Northcliffe Newspapers – then owned by DMGT – in the 1980s and 90s and has been credited with ‘dragging the group into the 20th century.’

Among the editors he appointed were Nick Carter, Sean Dooley, Adrian Faber, Neil Fowler, Steve Hall, Alex Leys and Mike Lowe – a group collectively known as ‘Parkmen’ who went on to dominate the industry in the 90s and early 00s.

Former Lincolnshire Echo and Derby Telegraph boss Neil paid tribute to Ian in a post on LinkedIn which we are republishing in full below.

Wrote Neil: “Those who worked in the UK regional news industry in the 1980s and 90s will know of Ian in his role as first managing director and then chairman of Northcliffe Newspapers, responsible for some 13 or so regional dailies plus numerous weeklies.

“He was a giant amongst giants in the sector when the sector truly had genuine big hitters running it.

“He took over Northcliffe in 1982, having been charged by Vere Rothermere with dragging the group in to something resembling the 20th century.

“This he did by appointing new managers, investing in new buildings, technology, people and presses, and taking a chance on young, mouthy, ambitious editors and giving us the freedom to try different tactics and strategies as we attempted to bring in new readers.”

Commenting on Neil’s post, former Leicester Mercury editor Nick added: “As one of those ‘new’ editors – 1987 onwards – Ian was simply great to work for, once you realised the laser-like focus was only about getting the best-possible results.

“Always ready ‘to take a punt’ and hugely supportive of Leicester’s unique cultural challenges. A red button Mandarin for sure.”

Steve, who edited the Exeter Express and Echo and Derby Telegraph, wrote: “Ian was a wonderful support when I was appointed to my first Editorship in Exeter.

“I remember agonising over the idea of spending a few thousand pounds to commission a noise survey after complaints about the din caused by the newly-built A30 – a move which ultimately resulted in sections of the road being resurfaced to solve the issue – and sought Ian’s counsel during a visit.

“He sat back in his chair, grinned broadly and told me that the cost was little more than that of a good lunch in London!

“It gave an inexperienced editor confidence that his decisions would be backed and set us on the road to winning the Newspaper of the Year award. I, like many, have much to be thankful to Ian for.”

And former Northcliffe executive Paul Kearney said: “I was also very fortunate to benefit from Ian Park’s inspirational leadership, mentoring and very wise counsel.

“He gave me my first general management role as deputy MD of the Leicester Mercury in the late 80s. He subsequently supported my appointment as MD of Bristol United Press in 1992, taking a punt on a young inexperienced executive.

“Whilst his legendary intellect and sharp focus could be challenging , he was incredibly supportive and encouraged bold innovation.

“His vision and intuition was unmatched and turned Northcliffe into a leading force in the regional press. A true leader and pioneer.”

Ian was also very supportive of women in the industry at a time when they were significant by their absence at senior levels.

He appointed Anita Syvret as editor of the Gloucestershire Echo in Cheltenham in 1990 – the first woman to edit a daily since WW2- followed later by Rachael Campey at the Express & Echo and Michelle Lalor at the Scunthorpe Telegraph.

Before moving into management, Ian had himself been a journalist, starting out as a trainee reporter on the Press & Journal in Aberdeen.

He swiftly moved onto the Sunday Times before returning to regional newspapers as managing director and editor-in-chief of the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo group from 1965-1982 when he moved to Northcliffe.

After 13 years as MD, Ian became chairman of Northcliffe Newspapers in 1995, finally retiring in 2002. The group later evolved into Local World and is now part of Reach plc.

He also served as chairman of the Press Association from 1978-80, and president of the Newspaper Society in 1980-81.

Ian died on 16th December following a long illness. He leaves a wife Anne, a son Adam and two grandchildren.

Neil’s piece on LinkedIn is published in full below.

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A friend once told me that he believed that there were three elements required to have a successful career: some skill; a healthy chunk of luck; and good mentors.

I can certainly attest to having enjoyed the benefits of the latter two of those ingredients – so I was very saddened to learn on Christmas morning of the death on December 16, aged 88, of my greatest mentor and the man who was the single most important influence on my business life – Ian Park.

Those who worked in the UK regional news industry in the 1980s and 90s will know of Ian in his role as first managing director and then chairman of Northcliffe Newspapers, responsible for some 13 or so regional dailies plus numerous weeklies. He was a giant amongst giants in the sector when the sector truly had genuine big hitters running it.

He took over Northcliffe in 1982, having been charged by Vere Rothermere with dragging the group in to something resembling the 20th century. This he did by appointing new managers, investing in new buildings, technology, people and presses, and taking a chance on young, mouthy, ambitious editors and giving us the freedom to try different tactics and strategies as we attempted to bring in new readers.

He was frighteningly intelligent, and could be challenging and fearsome, but also open to new ideas, and he developed an amazing loyalty amongst his editors in particular, unlike anything else in the business. In those days, Northcliffe editors reported straight to Ian, and not to the local general manager or MD. It made for an interesting dynamic that proved to be healthy and creative. And it meant that we saw ourselves as working for Ian Park (Parkmen, a term coined by Alex Leys, who edited three papers for Ian, at his retirement bash), and not for Northcliffe. To be fair, that loyalty extended to the new generation of local managers he appointed too.

He made me an editor (or took a punt) at 29, and another seat didn’t come up in the group for two years. So that changed my life. And others like Sean Dooley, Alan Goode, Mike Wood, Adrian Faber, Peter Moore, Brian MacArthur, Colin Davison, Mike Lowe, Cliff Smith, Nick Carter as well as Alex Leys and many others all benefited from his stewardship of Northcliffe.

But his influence didn’t stop there. All those who worked for Northcliffe editors (and local MDs) in those days, and then went on to take up senior roles themselves all enjoyed that success in part because of the decisions made by Ian Park in developing the group.

Ian Park changed Northcliffe very much for the better in the 1980s and 90s. I don’t know how he would have coped in today’s very changed media landscape and I’m not sure that is important. He turned around Northcliffe and he brought his senior teams with him as he implemented some far-reaching decisions as he engineered those changes.

The old cliche says we won’t see his like again. But, in the case of Ian Park, and regional and local media it is, sadly, very true.

[Neil later added the following in a comment.]

Having re-read my piece I realise that it may give the impression that Ian followed a male-only policy. Far from it. We were encouraged to move from the male-dominated world he inherited by developing talents of all kinds. He appointed the first (I think) female MD of a newspaper in the group; and he was genuinely pleased when I appointed the first regional female football writer in the UK (in Lincoln)  and also when the chief sub, deputy chief sub and assistant chief sub roles in Derby were all filled by women.