THE managing director of Newsquest Scotland, which publishes The Herald, is retiring after 40 years in the newspaper industry.

Tim Blott has worked in Scotland since 2003 after positions as managing director of Newsquest in Bradford and the north-east of England.

Mr Blott, who joined the company as a trainee reporter in 1975, was a journalist in Bradford, Darlington and High Wycombe before becoming editor of the Oxford Mail.

He will leave Newsquest Scotland at the end of the year and will be succeeded by Graham Morrison, the managing director of Newsquest Clyde & Forth, which publishes the Greenock Telegraph, Clydebank Post and Alloa Advertiser. The titles were formerly part of the Romanes Media Group, which was acquired by Newsquest earlier this year.

Mr Blott said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my 12 years in Scotland and thank all the staff, readers and advertisers for their encouragement and support and I wish them and all our marvellous print and online titles the best for the future.”

Henry Faure Walker, chief executive of Newsquest, said: “I would like to thank Tim for the great contribution he has made to Newsquest and to the wider industry over many years, and I look forward to Graham continuing to build on the success we have achieved in Scotland as the country’s leading news publishing business, both in print and online.”