Wales Online editor Paul Rowland has been promoted to the new role of editor-in-chief for Trinity Mirror’s South Wales region.
He will oversee Trinity Mirror titles including the Western Mail, South Wales Echo, Wales on Sunday. His portfolio will also include former the former Local World titles bought by Trinity Mirror at the end of last year: the South Wales Evening Post, Llanelli Star and Carmarthen Journal.
Trinity Mirror is making widespread cutbacks of editorial staff at former Local World titles and Rowland’s job will be to integrate the various titles and find “synergies”.
Welsh politicians have previously expressed concern over the scale of Trinity Mirror cutbacks across Wales in recent years.
Rowland, 33,began his career as a Media Wales trainee journalist 11 years ago.
He said: “It’s an incredibly exciting time to be involved in the business as we bring together the great strengths of our operations in Swansea and Cardiff, and I look forward hugely to working with the enormously talented teams in both centres to continue growing our vibrant news brands.
“As a proud Welshman, with family roots in Swansea going back generations and more than a decade of living and working in Cardiff, it’s a great privilege to lead this new phase for the media in Wales.”
Neil Benson, Trinity Mirror editorial director regionals, said: “Paul has proved himself to be one of our very best journalists and leaders, who fully understands digital and print, and the challenges we face.
“His top priority, with the help of an exceptionally strong editorial management team in South Wales, will be to lead the careful integration of our operations, capitalising on potential synergies while maintaining the local relevance that makes our brands unique. I wish him every success in his new role.”
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