New Yorkshire editor looking forward to ‘strong growth’
TheBusinessDesk.com has appointed former Yorkshire Post and Hull Daily Mail journalist Mark Flanagan as its new Yorkshire Editor.
The former Built Environment Networking editor-in-chief brings a wealth of experience and commercial know-how to the role, having also co-owned the award-winning Press newspaper for more than a decade.
Joint managing director Alex Turner, who originally joined the business as Yorkshire Editor 10 years ago, was delighted Mark had agreed to join at such an exciting time for the business news and events company.
He said: “We are looking forward to Mark bringing his experience and enthusiasm to the role as we look to build on our recent strong growth. There is a lot that we want to achieve in the region and Mark will be a key part of those ambitions in the years ahead.”
Mark started his career at the Harrogate Advertiser and worked at the Press Association and the Yorkshire Post before becoming sports editor of the Hull Daily Mail in 2001. He left three years later and became co-owner of the Dewsbury-based Press and also launched Yorkshire Golfer.
More recently he wrote a rugby league book called The Invincibles, the definitive account of the 1982 Ashes tour, and has also focussed on freelance/media consultancy work. He also set up his own indoor golf simulator business last year and there are now two Back Nine Golf venues in Otley and Guiseley.
He said: “I am delighted to be joining such a talented team and the Yorkshire business community, as a whole, have been fantastic. I’ve had so many ‘good luck’ messages.
“I’m also old enough to remember when my old YP colleague David Parkin started the business in 2007 and have been a regular user of the website so it does feel a bit strange now I’m in charge.
“But I’m relishing the challenge and am enjoying getting to meet the Yorkshire business community.”
TheBusinessDesk.com was launched 17 years ago in Yorkshire and the business news website quickly expanded into the North West and West Midlands, and has since grown to cover the East Midlands and South West.
It also runs some of the most high-profile business events in the region, including The Business of Yorkshire conference, which takes place next month (November 28), the Yorkshire Business of the Year awards, which will be hosted in Leeds next February. Entries are currently open for the Yorkshire Leadership Awards, while tickets are also available for the new Finance Futures half-day conference.
