Issue 55 | Page 34

Wear Business consultant editor Rob Lawson OBE ( left ) joined the team just a month after the publication appointed new sales manager Richard Jobling .
Experienced duo boost Wear Business team

FRONT MEN

One of Aycliffe Business ’ s sister publications has been given another major boost after experienced journalist and editor Rob Lawson OBE joined the Wear Business team , taking on the role of consultant editor for the Sunderland-based business publication .

The move comes less than a month after the appointment of experienced sales professional Richard Jobling as Wear Business ’ s sales manager .
Rob spent ten years as editor of Sunderland Echo from 2002 to 2012 and was previously editor of the Shields Gazette from 1997 to 2002 .
He was also editorial director of North East Press , which ran both newspapers , as well as the Hartlepool Mail and a range of Northumberland weeklies .
More recently , Rob – who is now a successful freelance PR consultant – served two full terms as chair of governors for Education Partnership North East ( EPNE ), which was formed under his stewardship after Sunderland College ’ s mergers with Hartlepool Sixth Form College in 2017 and Northumberland College in 2019 .
“ I ’ m excited to have joined the Wear Business team and am really looking forward to getting started ,” said Rob , who was awarded the OBE in the Queen ’ s New Year 2021 Honours List for his services to education .
“ It ’ s a magazine I ’ ve admired since it was launched and it ’ s so important for Sunderland and Durham to have their own dedicated platform for business-related news .
“ The team is both talented and ambitious and together I want Wear Business to reach its true potential .”
Wear Business is published by Resolution Media and Publishing , the team behind the successful Tees Business publication , which is owned by Aycliffe Business editor Martin Walker and his business partner Dave Allan .
Resolution non-executive director Bob Cuffe MBE , former regional managing director of Reach plc , added : “ It ’ s brilliant news for Wear Business to secure the expertise of Rob Lawson .
“ Rob is a fantastic ambassador for Wearside – he ’ s passionate about the area and is incredibly well connected . His background in media and education is extraordinary .
“ Rob will be a key influence on Wear Business making sure it ’ s promoting the businesses and leaders that are making a difference to the area .
“ We ’ re very much looking forward to working together with Rob on the magazine and associated events .”
Former Wear Business editor Graeme Anderson is continuing to work with the publication as writer .
• Experienced sales professional Richard Jobling joined Wear Business at the start of the year .
Richard ’ s career started out in the hospitality sector , which led to a business development role representing global hotel brands Holiday Inn , Crowne Plaza and Intercontinental .
Richard later launched his own restaurant and publishing business in Spain , eventually employing 10 people and producing five monthly lifestyle magazines focused on the expat market .
He returned to the UK and joined Newsquest as digital sales manager for The Northern Echo before joining independent news publisher CN Croup in Carlisle .
After Newsquest acquired the group in 2018 , Richard ’ s role as digital transformation manager focused on helping to integrate the Newsquest digital platform and product portfolio into CN Group .
More recently , Richard has worked as head of digital at Kingfisher Media , publisher of UK visitor guides .
Wear Business are now working on the summer issue . Thousands of copies will be mailed and delivered to businesses across the Sunderland and County Durham areas from May 20 . The booking deadline for issue # 9 is 5pm on Friday , April 29 . To book space , call Richard Jobling on 0191 563 4208 , or email richard @ wear . business .
34 | Aycliffe Business