Williams Quits Express To Join Rival Associated
Editor of the Daily Express, Chris Williams, has been poached by rival Associated Newspapers to take up a senior post at the Daily Mail.
Williams, who has been in charge of the newspaper for the past three years, will edit the Scottish edition of the Daily Mail, in a move that looks likely to anger Express owner Richard Desmond.
Peter Hill, editor of the Daily Star, will take over from Williams with immediate effect. He has a successful five years at the Daily Star and was last year named editor of the year in the What The Papers Say awards.
Reports suggest that Williams resigned over pressure from management to make further job cuts at the title. More than 150 journalists were laid off when Desmond bought the Express Newspapers Group back in November 2000.
A spokesman for Express Newspapers insisted Desmond was “disappointed” to see his editor depart and denied reports of a disagreement over job cuts. He said: “Chris Williams has been a superb editor and has worked to stem a 20-year decline in circulation.”
He added: “We are delighted to confirm Peter’s place as the new editor of the Daily Express and we are looking forward to his commitment to that newspaper. He has been an outstanding editor of the Daily Star, making it the fastest growing newspaper in Great Britain over the last two years.”
The latest ABC results show that Williams leaves the Daily Express with circulation dipping by 1.7% year on year to 972,745 in the six months to November. The Daily Mail recorded a 1% increase during the same period to just below the 2.5 million mark.
Analysis over a longer five year period reveals a steady decline in circulation for the Daily Express, which has seen its grip on the mid-market weaken. However, the Daily Mail continues to increase in popularity with circulation climbing gradually.
Reports suggest that the existing mid-market titles could face new competition next year in the form a new Sunday newspaper, Life On Sunday, which is planning to launch in the coming months with a focus on family values and a distinctly anti-tabloid feel (see Family Friendly Sunday Newspaper To Launch Next Year).
DMGT: 020 7938 6000 www.dmgt.co.uk Express Newspapers: 020 7928 8000
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