Robin Fletcher has left the editorship of the South Wales Echo in Cardiff to take up a new group-wide role for Trinity Mirror.
He will be working with the former managing director of the Western Mail & Echo, Gavin Steacy, who is now based at Canary Wharf and has been made change development director for Trinity Mirror’s regional news-
paper division.
It is understood that Fletcher will head the editorial side of the team planning future strategies for the group’s regional titles.
Trinity announced to the City earlier this year that it was reviewing future plans for the company’s regional newspapers and wanted all its titles to be "best in class".
The project team has been set up by Stephen Parker, managing director of the company’s regional newspapers, and Joe Synor, managing director of the national newspapers.
Parker said: "Both Gavin and Robin have been promoted into new divisional roles and they will be replaced in the fullness of time. They have very capable deputies who will maintain a business-as-usual approach." Western Mail & Echo managing director duties are being shared by Western Mail editor Neil Fowler and finance director Chris Pitson.
They are thought to be among six candidates up for the post of managing director.
When the new managing director is chosen, possibly as early as next week, the search for an editor will begin.
Fletcher, 35, joined the South Wales Echo after editing sister title, Wales on Sunday.
He had previously edited the Blackpool Gazette and the Chronicle & Echo in Northampton.
Senior assistant editor Mark Waldron is acting editor of the Echo.
By Jon Slattery
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