March 31, 2014

City AM editor Allister Heath leaves after six years to join Telegraph as deputy editor

City AM editor Allister Heath is leaving the free daily to join the Telegraph as deputy editor.

Heath will in charge of business coverage across Telegraph Media Group in a role which includes print and online.

Heath has written a weekly column for The Telegraph since 2012.

Telegraph editor in chief Jason Seiken said: "Allister is a talented print and digital editor who will add great value and a wealth of experience to the already strong editorial leadership team at The Telegraph. He has done a fantastic job at City AM.”

Heath joins existing Telegraph deputy editors Rob Winnett, Mark Skipworth and Liz Hunt.

Heath has edited City AM for six years during which time its daily free distribution has increased from around 100,000 to around 120,000. City AM claims that its print readership has more than doubled over that period to nearly 400,000.

City AM founder and chief executive Jens Torpe said: “Allister has been a superb editor of our newspaper. He has overseen City AM’s emergence as a force in London's business life, and his columns have been required reading.

“We are grateful for his significant contribution to our development, and he leaves with our very best wishes."

“We are now seeking to replicate this dominant position with our digital proposition, too, and we have begun a programme of significant investment in order to expand City AM's digital presence."

Earlier this month, City AM appointed Martin Ashplant to the job of digital and social media director. Ashplant was formerly the head of digital content at Metro.

Heath said: "I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at City AM, and it has been hugely exciting watching the paper grow in terms of readers and helping to steer it on the road to profitability. The time was right for me personally to seek a new challenge, and I am very much looking forward to joining the Telegraph."

A successor for Heath has yet to be chosen.