By Hamish Mackay
Deputy editor Damian Bates has been promoted to editor of the Evening Express, Aberdeen — succeeding Donald Martin who is moving south to edit the Glasgow Evening Times.
Bates, 37, began his career as a trainee reporter at the Evening Gazette, Middlesbrough, in 1990, progressing to become deputy business editor and then crime reporter.
He moved to The News, Portsmouth, as assistant news editor before switching to the Bradford Telegraph & Argus as news editor, where he was ultimately assistant editor. He joined the Evening Express as deputy editor in August 2003.
Bates, who takes over on 24 April, said: "I’m absolutely thrilled at the prospect of taking the helm at the Evening Express."
Bates takes over at a time of change at Aberdeen Journals which was sold two weeks ago by Northcliffe to DC Thomson in a £132m cash and pension top-up deal.
Despite a difficult evening market, in the latest set of ABCs the Evening Express was one of the best performers — down just 1.8 per cent to 56,868.
The Evening Express also has a new news editor — Louise Redvers who has taken over from Sally Macdonald.
Redvers, 26, was previously chief reporter of the Evening Chronicle, Newcastle. She joined Evening Express in March 2006 as news editor.
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