Moriarty will take up his new role, created after the departure of digital and business development director Henry Faure Walker, in April.

He will be responsible for the pushing the group’s digital strategy, following the relaunch of the publisher’s 196 websites in September last year, as well as overseeing ongoing development of the group's digital products.

Prior to working at The Boston Globe, Moriarty headed the new media division at The New York Times, where he was responsible for building a leading Manhattan real-estate website as well as growing the company’s digital business across 14 regional newspaper markets in the US, implementing mobile, video and online advertising services.

Moriarty will build on the success that Johnston has already acheived in its digital transition, with a 45% growth in digital audiences year-on-year in December and the number of unique users reaching 13.7m. Meanwhile digital revenue increased by more than 60% and, in many UK regions digital products already account for 20% of overall advertising revenue, up from just 5% in 2010.

Johnston chief executive Ashley Highfield said: “The knowledge, experience, insight and innovation that Jeff will bring to Johnston Press will help us forge ahead with our ambitious growth plans.”