Andrew Colley, currently Editor at Newsquest Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, will take up the role of Regional Editor at Oxfordshire. He will be responsible for the Oxford Mail, Oxford Times and Newsquest’s series of Oxfordshire weekly news brands.
He said: “I am delighted to be appointed to the role of Regional Editor for Oxfordshire and cannot wait to meet the team and get started.
“To be given the opportunity to manage an excellent group of journalists at one of Newsquest’s biggest regions is incredibly exciting.
“Flagship titles like the Oxford Mail and Oxford Times have such a strong, loyal readership with a huge following in print and online, with the latest JICREG data showing that the Oxford Mail now reaches 77% of all adults across the county each month.
“I want to work alongside those readers and local people to strengthen our ties with the community and build on a strong history of hard-hitting investigations, must-read exclusives and campaigns which can really make a difference.
“Having worked as Group Editor on Oxfordshire’s sister titles in Buckinghamshire and Berkshire for three years, I’ve watched closely the success the team has had and hope to help build on that to cement our position as the go-to platform for news and sport in the county.
“I will be sad to say goodbye to our multi-award-winning group in Bucks and Berks – where we’ve achieved some amazing highs in the last couple of years – but know the brilliant team there will continue to thrive.”
Daniel Chipperfield, currently Deputy Editor at Newsquest Midlands South will take up the role of Regional Editor at Wiltshire. He will lead the Swindon Advertiser as well as weekly titles the Wiltshire Times and Wiltshire Gazette & Herald.
Daniel Started his career with Newsquest as a reporter at the Gloucestershire Gazette in 2012 before moving to the Gloucester Citizen where he became chief reporter. He then moved to Bristol Live as Trends Writer before becoming a content editor at Somerset Live and Bath Live, then one of Reach’s engagement producers for the South West. He re-joined Newsquest as Deputy Regional Group Editor for Midlands South in July.
“I’m sad to be leaving the fantastic Midlands team after such a short spell as they made me feel so welcome and we achieved a lot in that time,” he said.
“But this is too good an opportunity to turn down. I am excited to take a leading role in how we go about setting the agenda and bringing people the news they want to see both in print and online.
“With family roots in the area, I’m proud to have the chance to lead the Swindon Advertiser, which as the latest JICREG data shows now reaches 79% of all Swindon adults every month.”
Neil Beck, currently Digital Audience & Content Editor in Wiltshire will take up the new role of Deputy Regional Editor at Wiltshire.
He said: “I’m delighted to take up the post of Regional Deputy Editor for three brilliant titles which have served the people of Swindon and Wiltshire so well for generations.
“Our role as the primary source of trusted news in our communities is more important now than it has ever been. Having helped lead the newsroom in Swindon for almost three years I am fully aware of just how crucial our work is and how much of a positive difference we can make.
“The county is a cracking patch for any reporter to get their teeth stuck into and I look forward to working alongside Daniel to help the editorial team here achieve its potential both digitally and in print.”
Julia Lancett, Managing Director of Newsquest Midlands South said: “I’m delighted with these appointments and I’m looking forward to working with Andrew, Daniel and Neil as we further develop our local news brands’ number one position in Oxfordshire and Wiltshire.
“These internal moves create two exciting new opportunities of Editor in Buckinghamshire and Berkshire and Deputy Editor in Midlands South with both positions to be advertised imminently.”
The appointments come as Pete Gavan, currently Regional Group Editor for Newsquest Oxfordshire and Wiltshire announced he is leaving Newsquest following four years at the company.
Start dates for Andrew, Daniel and Neil will be confirmed in due course, says Newsquest.
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