Thomson will join the company from Newsquest Media Group where he was group newspaper sales manager. He has 20 years’ experience in the business, working across titles such as Associated Newspapers, where he acted as group circulation executive and director of newspapers for the publisher’s classified ads newspaper Loot.

He also joined two other new directors, BMJ Group chief executive Tim Brooks and Procter & Gamble’s Jo Hughff, on the board of the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) earlier this month. He will act as a representative for the Newspaper Society.

Thomson has been appointed to boost sales and maximise the value of Johnston Press’ print portfolio during its restructure, whereby a number of paid-for titles have been relaunched.

Johnston Press commercial and marketing director Neil Jones said: "Our print brands remain central to our offering and as we continue to move forward with our re-launch strategy, Richard will play an invaluable role in driving their value.

Thomson's appointment comes soon after Ken Sim, former Johnston Press director of newspaper sales for the southwest region, joined rival Northcliffe Media (now part of Local World along with Iliffe News & Media) as head of circulation.

Jones said Sim would not be replaced as Thomson is looking after all 10 of the regional portfolios in his newly-created role as part of the company's strategy to create more "centralised" management structure.

Thomson said: "Johnston's status as one of the leading media groups in the UK, combined with the transformation which it is undergoing, creates an exciting proposition and I look forward to working together with the team."

Thomson will be starting his role at the same time as the company's first group marketing director, Lucy Sinclair, joins from the BBC, where she was director of marketing and audiences.