Charlotte Ross joined the paper in 2006 as executive features editor, says the publisher, when Veronica Wadley was editor and progressed to become executive editor under Geordie Greig and deputy editor for Sarah Sands and then George Osborne. She took up the newly created role of publisher alongside Emily Sheffield and in recent months has also been acting editor.
The Evening Standard says that Charlotte has contributed a vast amount to the business, an editorial powerhouse and visionary leader across print and digital, she also combined a business instinct with creativity and flair to evolve a successful and pioneering editorially-led partnerships division. She was at the forefront of the drives for diversity, sustainability and gender parity across the company and believed strongly in an inclusive, fair and values-led workplace, they added.
According to the Evening Standard, as publisher she oversaw the integration of the Evening Standard’s print and digital operations to create a single, multi-platform team, spearheading the company’s transition to a digital first business. Under her editorship, they continued, the Evening Standard has had some of its most powerful coverage and front pages, including the horror of the Ukraine war and the emotional return home of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.
Charlotte Ross said: “The Evening Standard is quite simply an iconic brand with a brilliant team of journalists – past and present – who I love, respect and have enjoyed working with enormously. It has been an immense privilege to work here during such a key part of my professional life. There has never been a dull day. I will miss it hugely.”
Charles Yardley, CEO said: “We will greatly miss the ideas, focus, intelligence and energy that Charlotte brought to the Standard. She is a fantastic team player with an entrepreneurial approach and clear editorial vision that have been central to the business for a long time. I wish her well in the next chapter of her brilliant career.”
The publisher has announced that Jack Lefley will assume the role of acting editor with immediate effect, he has been at the Evening Standard for more than 16 years after joining as a reporter in 2006. Jack went on to lead the News team as news editor and head of news playing a central role in the digital transformation of the editorial operation. He was made executive editor by George Osborne before becoming deputy editor last year.
