Michelle Stanistreet has been elected to replace Jeremy Dear at the National Union of Journalists – becoming the union’s first-ever woman general secretary.
Stanistreet, a former Express journalist, will take up the role from 1 July. She is currently deputy general secretary.
She was declared elected by the union today after the only other candidate, Chris Youett, withdrew.
Stanistreet said today: “I am immensely proud to be elected to lead our union – and to be the first woman to have the opportunity to do so.
“I will repay the faith placed in me by working hard to build our union, speak up for members and stand up for journalism.”
Outgoing general secretary Jeremy Dear, who has served 10 years in the role, said in a statement today: “The union is in the best possible hands. Michelle has been a fantastic deputy and has always fought resolutely to defend journalists and journalism.
“She will work tirelessly on behalf of all members and to ensure the NUJ is and remains the voice of journalists in the workplace and throughout the industry.”
Jeremy Dear fired the starting gun on the first NUJ leadership race for a decade by revealing in February that he was to stand down after serving as general secretary for two terms.
Dear was elected as the union’s youngest ever leader in 2001.
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