Graeme Thompson, a former editor of North East Tonight and head of news, is taking over the managing director role at Tyne Tees Television.
He is replacing Margaret Fay, who is retiring from the company after 22 years.
Thompson, who was also responsible for launching the company’s news operation, is presently controller of programmes. He said: “I am delighted to be part of the North East’s best-loved businesses. I understand the importance of regional television to the North East and I intend for Tyne Tees to continue to play a major role in this new multichannel age.”
Fay, who will leave at the end of the year, is taking early retirement to concentrate on her work as chairwoman of One NorthEast, a regional development agency. She said that she was grateful to Granada for the opportunity to concentrate on her One NorthEast work, but added that she is “sad to be leaving after so many years with the company”.
Tyne Tees produces eight-and-a-half hours of regional programmes each week for a transmission area that reaches from Berwick to York.
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