The name change and appointment of its first stand-alone editor is part of a "refresh" of the paper, which began life in February 2012 following the closure of the News of the World in July 2011. The Sun also recently announced it was taking on 16 new journalists, as part of what was described as a "multi-million pound operation".
Daily editor David Dinsmore will retain overall control of the seven-day operation.
Newton, former deputy editor of the News of the World, becomes the UK's fifth female major newspaper editor – after Dawn Neesom at the Daily Star, Lisa Markwell at the Independent on Sunday, Alison Phillips at the Sunday Mirror and Sarah Sands at the Evening Standard.
The paper has also recruited Daily Mirror writer Tony Parsons who will take over as a columnist this Sunday in place of comedian Frankie Boyle.
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At a media briefing in Wapping this morning, Newton said that ten to 12 journalists would be working solely on the Sunday edition of the paper. News UK described the changes as a "refresh" rather than a relaunch.
Newton began her career at the Express before joining The Sun’s showbiz team. She was later made Los Angeles correspondent and Bizarre editor.
"I am thrilled to be given the opportunity and the resources to take Britain's number one Sunday newspaper to an even better place,” she said.
“The Sun has a formidable reputation for exclusive, hard hitting and investigative journalism and alongside the humour and headlines, showbiz and comment I look forward to securing The Sun firmly as the home of the best Sunday stories.”
Dinsmore said: "Victoria is ideally placed to build on The Sun's long-standing success and ensure our readers are amused, informed, provoked and championed every Sunday, as they are during the week.”
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