The appointment of Maria - the first woman to edit the MEN - was announced by Georgina Harvey, Managing Director of Trinity Mirror Regionals.
Georgina Harvey, said: "I am delighted to announce the appointment of Maria as the Editor of the Manchester Evening News.
"This iconic newspaper has a rich and important heritage and Maria's passion and experience will guide the title - across all platforms - to further and future success."
Maria, 48, joined the MEN as Assistant Editor in 1998. She was appointed Deputy Editor in 2006 and was named Acting Editor in October last year. Prior to joining the MEN, she held a number of senior roles at the Liverpool Echo.
Maria said: "I'm absolutely delighted to have been appointed Editor of the Manchester Evening News. This is a great paper with a fantastic team of people who work very hard to set the news agenda in Greater Manchester. I'm also very proud of our weekly titles which continue to serve their communities so well. This is a very exciting time for our newspapers and I'm looking forward to being part of the team driving for a successful future."
