Chris Longcroft has taken on the role of operations managing director and will handle contract global printing, as well as responsibility for all direct production costs, including newsprint, ink and plates, business continuity, and the distribution network, including both the wholesale relationships and the Direct-to-Retail capabilities.

He joined News International in February 2009 as finance director, operations, working across the business on a number of strategic projects.

Longcroft will report to chief executive Rebekah Brooks and join the executive team. Brooks said: "I am very pleased that we have been able to promote internally to fill this role. Chris has a solid understanding of newspaper operations and has played a key role in implementing some major projects throughout manufacturing and distribution. I look forward to him becoming a member of the Executive team."

Before News International, he worked for BAT from 1997-2009 in various finance roles. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant at Coopers and Lybrand in 1997.