Liz Page moves from the editor’s chair at the Yorkshire Evening Press to the role of publisher on 1 May to run all of Newsquest’s York and County Press newspapers.
Former managing director Daphne Ellis transferred last autumn to become managing director of Newsquest’s South London division. Now Page, who has been editor of the Evening Press since 1996 and deputy editor for six months before that, is to take charge and report to regional managing director Tim Blott.
In her charge will be the Evening Press; the Star series of free newspapers; the Advertiser, a classified pick-up paper; the website and some niche publications.
Page, 43, is well prepared for the role – last year she went on a Newsquest management development course at Manchester Business School which taught her leadership, marketing, team-building and other skills.
“I’m looking forward to it,” said Page. “Part of being an editor is that you see how all the elements of the paper fit together and I am looking forward to a wider role in all areas of the papers and developing them as a whole.”
Page and the current senior management team of seven have worked together for a long time and she believes they will do a great job .
Newsquest has a tradition of appointing women to run this company. Before Ellis, Anne Blood was managing director. “It’s becoming a bit of a trend here in York,” said Page. “What I am really pleased about is that it shows that someone from an editorial background can have the opportunity to move into a wider role if they want to.”
Page is a past president of the Society of Editors and remains on its board. Her successor will be chosen from internal and external candidates.
By Jean Morgan
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