Archant, the community media company and publishers of the EDP, Evening News, Great Yarmouth Mercury, Lowestoft Journal and a host of weekly newspaper titles, today announced senior changes within its Archant Anglia division, which manages print and digital publishing assets across East Anglia.

Archant Anglia MD, Johnny Hustler announced the appointment of Bob Crawley to the new role of publishing director, and James Gurney to a new commercial director role, taking responsibility for commercial revenues from the Archant Norfolk and Archant Suffolk business units.

Mr Gurney, 37, joined Archant in September 2011 as commercial director of Archant Suffolk and his promotion to the new role recognises his record in Suffolk, where there has been a turnaround in performance with an especially strong focus on new business growth.

He has worked in publishing for 16 years, since graduating from Brunel University in London with a degree in business management and law and held senior roles at organisations including Computer Publishing, LSN Media and Iliffe News & Media, and, together with two business partners, also ran his own business, Publishing Partners.

He is married to Daniela, and has two children, George, four, and Ellia, two. His interests include beekeeping, and he also used to be a kickboxing instructor.

'My main aim here is to work across the two counties and make sure we appreciate the strong links that are there, and to ensure that we offer value to our customers,' he said.

Mr Crawley has a distinguished record at Archant, having been editor of the Norwich Evening News, managing director of contract publishing division Archant Dialogue and consumer and lifestyle magazine business Archant Specialist and also editorial director of Archant London.

All four daily editors in Archant Anglia will report to Mr Crawley, whose brief is to ensure that the Norfolk and Suffolk portfolio continues to please its audience while providing commercial clients with exactly the media environment they require. His new role will begin in August 2012.

Mr Gurney joined Archant in September 2011 as commercial director of Archant Suffolk and his promotion to the new role recognises his record in Suffolk, where there has been a turnaround in performance with an especially strong focus on new business growth.

Mr Hustler said: 'I am delighted to have completed the hiring of my senior team in Anglia,' said Hustler. 'We now have experienced and skilled leaders in each function and on all platforms.'

As a result of these changes, Chris Moore, who joined Archant in 2011 as commercial director of Archant Norfolk, will be leaving the company.

Mr Hustler added: 'I am really sorry to see Chris Moore leave. His family had not moved to Norfolk and a year after being in post he was still commuting from the North East, to where he has decided to return. This has been a challenging time for him and in these difficult circumstances he has done a great job for us.'