New General Manager Joins Express Newspapers

Former Labour party general secretary, Margaret McDonagh, has been appointed general manager of Express Newspapers.

McDonagh will take up the role at the company owned by Richard Desmond, shortly and is expected to take charge of the Daily and Sunday Express, the Daily Star and OK! magazine. Her remit will not extend to the top shelf magazines from which Desmond, branded the “Porn King” by the Daily Mail, made his fortune.

McDonagh’s appointment has caused a stir in political circles as it comes just eight months after the Government approved Desmond’s acquisition of Express Newspapers from United News & Media for £125m (see Gossip And Girlie Publisher Takes On Express And Star).

Desmond’s two Express titles have not been doing too well in terms of readership lately. According to the latest NRS national newspaper figures (see Newsline), the Daily Express saw readership drop by 319,000 to just under 2 million and the Sunday Express saw a 152,000 drop off in readership to just over 2 million. However, the Daily Star saw readership increase and in terms of circulation, OK! magazine reported strongly in the latest set of ABC results.

Express Newspapers: 020 7922 7704 www.express.co.uk

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