Change of guard at The National

Keach Hagey

• Last Updated: June 08. 2009 9:17PM UAE / June 8. 2009 5:17PM GMT

Martin Newland, the founding editor of The National, has left the editorship for a more business-focused role overseeing the newspaper as its editorial director, it was announced today.

He will be succeeded by his former deputy, Hassan Fattah. As part of the move, Bob Cowan will become deputy editor and Tion Kwa will become assistant editor.

“I’ve done this for a long time, paid my dues editing, and have always been intrigued by the more business side of things,” Mr Newland said. “It’s what I’d like to get under my belt and move into before I hit 50.”

Before coming to The National, Mr Newland served as the editor of the UK’s Daily Telegraph and a launch editor of Canada’s National Post. In his new role, he will spearhead expansion of the newspaper’s brand across the company’s range of platforms and services.

Commenting on the promotion, Mohammed Khalaf Al Mazrouei, the chairman of Abu Dhabi Media Company, the publisher of The National, said: We are delighted that Martin will now focus his efforts on the next phase of brand expansion across our digital and broadcast spaces, enabling us to pioneer a new era of regionally relevant, on-demand content to reveal the multiple platform approach of global news brands.”

khagey@thenational.ae