Boffey: 26 years on nationals Hanna: becomes deputy editor
New Daily Mirror editor Richard Wallace has increased his popularity at the paper by making a raft of inhouse promotions in the first shakeup of his senior team.
Biggest leg up the Mirror career ladder is for Conor Hanna, who gets the deputy editorship. Previously assistant editor (news), Hanna has worked on the paper for eight-and-a-half years.
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But Wallace has also looked at rivals for one major appointment, poaching Chris Boffey, senior reporter at The Daily Telegraph. Boffey is to be the Mirror’s new news editor. He seems destined for the role, having held the post on the Sunday Mirror and The Sunday Telegraph at various points in his career.
Boffey was approached by Wallace a fortnight ago. They worked against each other when Wallace was at the Daily Mail and Boffey at Today. Boffey’s decision was quickly made: “You can’t turn down news editor of the Daily Mirror – it’s one of the great jobs in journalism,” he said.
He moved to national newspapers from the The Journal, Newcastle, in 1978. He was a reporter with the Daily Star, Today, News of the World and The Sun before becoming news editor of the Sunday Mirror in 1994. He was assistant editor (news) of The Sunday Telegraph when it was voted Newspaper of the Year in 2000.
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Boffey was also an adviser to Estelle Morris when she was the Secretary of State for Education. He rejoined the Telegraph Group last year.
Back at the Daily Mirror, executive editor Jon Moorhead is promoted to number three on the paper.
Night editor Lloyd Embley is stepping up to assistant editor (production) and features editor Alison Phillips moves to associate editor on her return from maternity leave.
Associate editor Peter Willis – recently a candidate for the editor’s job – will take on overseeing special projects and news/feature content for Saturday and Monday editions, reporting directly to Wallace.
Assistant editor (features) Matt Kelly is promoted to head of features, women’s editor Clare Raymond becomes features editor and showbiz editor Kevin O’Sullivan becomes executive features editor. Caroline Jones has been appointed women’s editor.
Head of news Andy Lines will become special news correspondent, with responsibilities for sports news.
Wallace commented: “The Daily Mirror has a great team with strength in depth and these changes are designed to further improve our outstanding operation.”
Hanna joined the title as a news reporter in February 1996 from local papers in his native Belfast. He was made news editor of the Mirror’s Irish editions before being brought to London by ex-editor Piers Morgan in August 1998 as night news editor. He was promoted to news editor in October 2000, where he worked on the desk alongside Wallace, and was made assistant editor (news) in April 2003.
By Jean Morgan
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