David Dick, Scottish editor-in-chief of Daily Record and Sunday Mail owner Reach, is moving to a new role to lead the publisher’s national newspaper print strategy.
After seven years heading the Glasgow-based titles he will take over as head of print (nationals) and will also be developing a podcast.
His role will be to oversee the print production operation at the Daily Mirror, and the Express and Star titles.
A memo to staff said that the national editors “are, and will remain, the owners of their brands across all platforms, spanning everything from brand strategy through to day to day commissioning”.
He said: “This is 100% my decision. News brands have always relied on fresh ideas and new energy and the greatest opportunity I can give someone now is for me to take on a new challenge myself, and let someone else have a turn at the best job in Scottish journalism.”
He added that he was proud of campaigning journalism on issues such as the drug-death crisis and youth violence.
Dick launched city digital sites Glasgow Live in 2016 and Edinburgh Live in 2018.
According to trade journal Press Gazette a new editor-in-chief for Scotland will be announced shortly.
Half-year figures issued this week show revenue declined 3.4% to £256m in the first half.
Print revenue came in 4.8% lower at £194.1m (HY24: £204.0m), while digital revenue continued to grow to £61.1m (HY24: £60.0m), up 1.8%.
The group said it was planning digital subscriptions, which North described in an investor call as “one market trend we haven’t yet taken advantage of”.
He noted the “growth of news subscriptions offering ad-free, premium content plus offers and products”.
Mail Online has launched a partial paywall restricting access to certain articles in its core areas and it reached 100,000 paying subscribers in less than ten months. The Sun followed suit with a similar model this year while Sky News has set out plans to charge for premium content.
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