Former Sunday Telegraph editor Sarah Sands has been appointed deputy editor of the London Evening Standard – but her current employer, Reader’s Digest, has said she will not leave until August.
Sands, who is currently editor-in-chief of Readers Digest UK, is returning to the newspaper industry to take up the role at the title, which has been sold to Russian billionaire Alexander Lebedev.
Her appointment follows that of former Tatler editor Geordie Greig, who joins the London evening paper as editor.
He said in a statement: “Sarah is one of the most dynamic and motivating editors with a track record of creating lively, must-read journalism.”
The Standard said Andrew Bordiss, the current deputy editor, will remain in the role.
Sands left the Sunday Telegraph in March 2006 after nine months in the job. She was removed apparently because of her resistance to seven-day working across the daily and Sunday titles as well as to their combined websites.
Sands began her career as a reporter for the Kent and Sussex Courier Group, going on to become editor of Londoner’s Diary at the Evening Standard, features editor and then associate editor.
Before editing the Sunday Telegraph, she spent 11 years at the Daily Telegraph – including a successful two-year stint editing the Saturday edition.
She worked as a consultant editor at the Daily Mail before joining Reader’s Digest last April.
Reader’s Digest managing director Chris Spratling said: “I can confirm that Sarah Sands, editor-in-chief of Reader’s Digest magazine will take up the deputy editorship of the Evening Standard in August.
“Sarah has been a fantastic editor and we’re thrilled with the new direction of the magazine and the quality of the writers she has brought to the team.
“Sarah will be returning to newspapers, which are her first love, and we wish her well.”
The Daily Mail and General Trust sold a 75.1 per cent stake in the Evening Standard to Alexander Lebedev last month.
He has pledged an investment in the region of £25m to £30m to transform the title, which has rapidly lost sales since the London free evening newspaper war began in summer 2006.
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