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September 2, 2011

Alan Scott to stand down as Aberdeen Journals MD

By Andrew Pugh

The managing director of DC Thomson-owned Aberdeen Journals, Alan Scott, is retiring from the company at the end of the year.

Staff were today informed by DC Thomson chairman Andrew Thomson that Scott will be standing down on 9 December – exactly 27 years after he first joined the company.

‘On behalf of the board of DC Thomson and Co, I would like to thank Alan for his many years of service to The Press & Journal, The Evening Express and the Aberdeen staff,” said Thomson.

‘Alan has for many years been the heart and soul of Aberdeen Journals Ltd and has led the business through good times and bad times with unwavering dedication to the newspapers and the staff.

‘His hard work and determination has seen Aberdeen Journals Ltd through a period of change and he has been personally involved in making the company the successful business that it is today.

‘We wish Alan and his wife a long and happy retirement and I am sure this will be echoed throughout the Newspaper industry.”

DC Thomson bought Aberdeen Journals in 2006 for £132m from Northcliffe Media, snapping up the The Press and Journal, Aberdeen Evening Express, free-ads paper Scot-Ads and the free distribution weekly Aberdeen Citizen.

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At the time of the purchase, when Scott was managing director, it was reported to be the best-performing group within Northcliffe.

In a separate email to staff Scott said: “Today the chairman of DC Thomson & Co, announced that I had asked to retire as managing director of Aberdeen Journals Limited on the 9 December 2011 as that is the date I will have been 27 years, to the day, in this position. I believe 27 years in any senior job is long enough – Pat, my wife, says too long in my case!

“I have known DC Thomson directors, both personally and as an employee, for 26 years and have found them to be great to know and great to work for.

‘I am delighted that they are the owners of Aberdeen Journals Limited as they are newspaper people through and through and will always act in the best interests of the Company and you the staff.”

He added: ‘Speaking of the staff, I have been lucky to have worked with some of the greatest people in newspapers in Aberdeen.

‘Over the years I have made many friends both inside and outside the business and I must mention my closest colleagues – Lorna Edwards, Raymond McRobbie, Watson Mutch, Damian Bates, Alan McCabe – the best team you could have.

‘I must also say that at the present time given the current climate, I have never known the morale and attitude of all the staff to be better.

‘Whatever I do in the future, and I hope to use my experience in some capacity, I know I will be unlikely to work with better.”

DC Thomson said Scott’s successor will be announced in due course.

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