A senior leader with the NCTJ is moving back onto the local news frontline following the departure of a long-serving daily and weekly editor.

Gary Pearson, who was editor of Newsquest’s North Essex titles including Colchester’s Daily Gazette, is leaving the company after 24 years.

He will be replaced by Laura Adams, pictured, who for the past three years has been running the Journalism Skills Academy at the NCTJ.

Staff were told of Laura’s appointment on Wednesday, hours after being informed that Gary was leaving the business.

Before joining the NCTJ in 2022, Laura previously spent 14 years with Archant, which was taken over by Newsquest earlier that year.

Having joined the company as deputy editor of the Ham & High, she became editor of the Barking and Dagenham Post in 2010 and later held a number of senior editorial roles, including director of content development.

Gary had edited the Gazette since February 2020 and was also responsible for 11 weeklies including the Essex County Standard, Clacton Gazette, Braintree & Witham Times and Harlow Guardian.

The changes were communicated to staff on Wednesday by Newsquest South East managing director Michael Harper in a series of emails that have been seen by HoldtheFrontPage.

In a message sent at 11.26am, he wrote: “Gary Pearson, senior editor for North Essex, will leave the company on 9 March 2025 after 24 years of service.

“I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and that Gary for his contribution to the direction and management of the business areas he has overseen.”

In a subsequent email sent at 2.30pm the same day, he wrote: “Laura Adams has been appointed as senior editor for North and Mid Essex and will take up her role on 10th March.

“She will be based at the Colchester office and will be responsible for the North and Mid Essex portfolio with additional responsibility for the management of the print hub.

“Laura will report directly to me and will become a member of the South East Executive team.

“I am sure you will want to join me in welcoming Laura back to Newsquest and wishing her every success in her new role.”

In a previous email, sent on 27th February, Mr Harper had informed staff that Gary would be away from work.

It read: “This note is to advise you that, with immediate effect, Gary Pearson, editor of the Daily Gazette and North Essex portfolio, will now be absent from work.  This is a private matter and no other details can be shared at this time.”

Gary’s is the second major editorial departure in Newsquest’s Essex titles in recent months following that of regional editor-in-chief Chris Hatton

Chris’s role previously encompassed both North and South Essex with both Gary and Southend/Basildon Echo editor Michael Adkins reporting to him, but the post was axed in December with all editors in the South East now reporting to Mr Harper.