April 2, 2015updated 07 Apr 2015 2:36pm

Telegraph editor-in-chief Jason Seiken departs after 18 months

Telegraph Media Group editor-in-chief Jason Seiken has announced his departure from the newspaper group after 18 months.

Seiken, who also held the title of chief content officer, has been in the job since October 2013.

The Telegraph said in a statement today that he had "most recently been leading the development of the company’s new digital strategy, which he has completed".

It said: "During his tenure, the Telegraph restructured its editorial operation to put digital at the forefront."

Seiken is quoted in the press release as saying: “I’m proud of how the Telegraph has become a digital leader, and I’m gratified that the Telegraph has seen such a large growth in its digital audience.

"The company has a great future and will continue to thrive. I wish all my colleagues at the Telegraph the very best for the future."

Murdoch MacLennan, TMG chief executive, said: “We completely understand Jason’s regrettable decision to move onto new opportunities now that he has completed his work here. He has been a much valued colleague, providing a great deal of input into identifying future strategy for the Telegraph Media Group to ensure we remain a world-class and commercially successful media organisation. We wish him well.”

The Telegraph said that Chris Evans would remain editor of The Daily Telegraph and "Director of Content overseeing output over all digital and print? platforms?".

Seiken was recruited from Public Broadcasting Service in the US, where he was senior vice president and general manager (digital).

Initially, he was reported to by Daily Telegraph editor Tony Gallagher and Sunday Telegraph editor Ian MacGregor. Gallagher's position was then axed in January, and he has since moved on to the Daily Mail.

In October 2013, Seiken was given responsibility for all editorial operations and for “transforming the newsroom into a dynamic, entrepreneurial culture with digital products at its core", according to a statement from Telegraph Media Group.

A large number of high-profile journalists have left the Telegraph under Seiken, including Gallagher, website editor Richard Fletcher, comment writer Benedict Brogan, blogs editor Damian Thompson, business editor Tim Jotischky, theatre critic Charles Spencer, diary editor Tim Walker and chief political commentator Peter Oborne, who in February accused the Telegraph of “a form of fraud” by allowing commercial considerations to censor its coverage of the bank HSBC. Most recently, Press Gazette revealed last week that football writer Henry Winter is to leave for The Times.

Press Gazette understands Seiken had become detached from day-to-day editorial since October, when he moved to a strategic role.

Since then, Evans has been chairing monthly 'townhall' meetings with staff and there has been little contact between the two.