August 28, 2014

Back in business: Chris Blackhurst takes up new role working across Lebedev titles

Journalists not business people says former Independent editor Chris Blackhurst

Former Independent editor Chris Blackhurst has been appointed as multimedia head of business across Evgeny Lebedev's media empire.

Current head of business James Ashton, meanwhile, has been made executive editor across The Independent, i, Independent on Sunday and Evening Standard.

Blackhurst, who takes up his new role on Monday, replaced Simon Kelner as editor of The Independent in July 2011. In April 2012 he was promoted to group editorial director of the Evening Standard and Independent titles. He was replaced as editor of The Independent by Amol Rajan in July last year, moving to become group content director.

Blackhurst is understood to be looking forward to returning to writing and editing. Before becoming editor of The Independent he was business editor of the Evening Standard.

The moves were announced by managing director Andrew Mullins, who is set to leave the company, this afternoon.

Announcing a number of other job moves, he said: “On i, Andy Webster is appointed deputy editor. Fran Yeoman is appointed assistant editor (news).

“On the Independent titles, Neil Robinson is appointed night editor. Martyn Kent is made assistant production editor, and Matt Tench and Emma Hutchings join the production team.

“Nicky Trup joins as group deputy head of travel and Chloe Hamilton moves to the group travel desk as writer and editorial assistant.

“Elizabeth Kirkwood joins as group readers' liaison assistant working with Will Gore.

“Congratulations to them all.”