Dowds, who is to take up his new role in September, will be responsible for the commercial and editorial development of Trinity Mirror Digital’s (TMD) publishing division.

He will report to TMD managing director Chris Ellis.

Dowds has previously held senior roles at Specific Media, Turner Media and advertising agency Mindshare.

Trinity Mirror publishes the Daily and Sunday Mirror, The People, Scotland's The Daily Record and 130 regional newspapers.

Dowds said he was "thrilled" to be joining Trinity Mirror Digital "at such an exciting and ambitious time".

"Chris Ellis has already built an impressive team and they are now well placed to make the very most of all the opportunities that exist across all current and developing platforms," he added.

TMD also recently appointed Matt Colebourne as new business development director.

In January Trinity Mirror acquired digital communications specialist The Communications Corporation in an £8m deal in a bid to enhance its digital offering.