Boss of MEN and Liverpool Echo leaves post after 28 years with publisher
The managing director of the Liverpool Echo and Manchester Evening News is leaving the business.
Carl Wood is leaving Reach after 28 years working in the regional press industry.
Mr Wood was managing director for the papers in Liverpool and Manchester as well as the North Wales Daily Post and the Huddersfield Examiner.
Carl Wood
Mr Wood is the third senior manager to leave the firm following the arrival of new chief executive Jim Mullen.
The latest departure was confirmed to staff in an announcement circulated to staff last week.
He said: “I have had a fantastic 28 year career with the company, worked with the most talented people in the industry and had responsibility for world-famous brands in the Liverpool Echo and the Manchester Evening News, which I am very grateful for and very proud of.
“I feel very lucky to have had such an enjoyable and rewarding career but now I am looking forward to, and am very excited about, the future plans and choices I can make I would like to thank all of my colleagues and wish them all the very best.”
Mike Pennington, regional revenue director and North-East regional commercial director, has also left the business along with group development director Rupert Howell.
Jim Mullen was the former chief executive of betting firm Ladbrokes Coral. He replaced Simon Fox who stepped down from the role last month.
Reach is one of the UK’s largest publishing group’s and has more than 240 titles including The Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, The Sunday People, Scottish Sunday Mail and Daily Record.
Jim Mullen stepped down as Ladbrokes Coral Group CEO in March 2018, having successfully negotiated the £4 billion sale of the FTSE gambling group to rivals GVC Holdings.
According to reports Reach is interested in increasing its portfolio and is looking at acquiring JPI Media which owns around 100 regional titles. It is one of eight firms to have entered the bidding process.
