Senior Executive Changes at Telegraph Media Group

Nick Hugh, who has been chief operating officer at Telegraph Media Group since January, has been appointed chief executive officer. He takes over from Murdoch MacLennan who has been chief executive since 2004.  Murdoch will be staying with TMG as deputy chairman.

In the short time at TMG, Hugh has overseen a restructure to increase the focus on future growth drivers in the digital ecosystem across advertising, commerce and events, TMG said.

In his new role as chief executive, Hugh will be charged with continuing and accelerating the transformation to be a modern media owner with fully diversified revenues to ensure a healthy future for journalism.

During the last 13 years, MacLennan has overseen the transformation of The Telegraph into one of the world’s leading digital providers of quality news and one of the most commercially successful news brands in the UK.

In his new role, MacLennan, who is also chairman of the Press Association Group, will continue to maintain a leadership role within the key industry bodies such as the News Media Association, the Regulatory Funding Company and INMA, of which he is an international Board member. He is also a member of the Google DNI Council.

Murdoch MacLennan said: “I am immensely proud of everything we have achieved at The Telegraph, and honoured to become deputy chairman of the Group. I look forward to representing The Telegraph on a number of national and international organisations fighting for press and commercial freedom.  I wish Nick well and look forward to continuing to support him and the TMG team in my new role.”

Nick Hugh said: “I’m honoured and excited to take on the role as CEO and, with the help of the brilliant TMG team, I’m certain great times are ahead.  I’d like to thank Murdoch for his support since I joined the company and look forward to building a great future for the business.”

Aidan Barclay, chairman of Telegraph Media Group, said: “I am delighted that Nick Hugh is to become CEO.  He has the ideal background and track record to build on the successful business we run today and I’m very optimistic about our future.

“I am extremely grateful to Murdoch for his work over the last 13 years. He has led The Telegraph’s transformation during a period of profound change within the media and I look forward to continuing to work closely with him.”