Insider Media Limited

Northcliffe Media, which owns the Derby Telegraph, Leicester Mercury and Nottingham Evening Post, is set to drastically alter its internal set-up by axing the roles of regional editors and managing directors. The announcement comes just weeks after new managing director Steve Auckland took over from Michael Pelosi.

The move will involve publisher roles created in three of the group's newspaper centres in Nottingham, Bristol and Hull. Editors in those locations will now report directly to the publishers who will have full responsibility for the profit and loss of the businesses.

Currently, Northcliffe has six regional editors across its three regions - North and Midlands, South West and Wales, and South East. The company said none of these employees are likely to lose their jobs as they all have other roles editing other group publications.

Since taking over the managing director’s role last month, Auckland has also launched a review of the company's portfolio, which industry insiders think could see some daily titles going weekly.

A spokesman for Northcliffe Media said: "The operating structure at Northcliffe Media is going through some changes to create a simplified 'one team' approach.

"Three publisher roles will be created in Bristol, Nottingham and Hull. These roles will have full profit and loss accountability, and responsibility for the publishing model, pricing structure and staffing for their centres. The positions will be advertised nationally.

"The restructure is the first phase of a long-term strategy to improve the performance of Northcliffe Media."