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Rob and Richard boost Wear Business team
Wear Business consultant editor Rob Lawson OBE ( left ) joined the team just a month after the publication appointed new sales manager Richard Jobling .
Experienced journalist and editor Rob Lawson OBE is the latest to join 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 sales manager .
Rob spent ten years as editor of the Sunderland Echo from 2002 to 2012 and was previously editor of the Shields Gazette .
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 , which was formed under his stewardship after Sunderland College merged 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 sales manager Richard Jobling , who ’ s operating from the publication ’ s Sunderland base at the North East Business and Innovation Centre ( BIC ), added : “ We ’ re delighted with the appointment of Rob , who brings with him a wealth of journalism experience and knowhow .
“ To have someone of Rob ’ s calibre working alongside me in strengthening Wear Business ’ s reputation as the voice of business in the Wear region is a major boost .”
Wear Business is published by Resolution Media and Publishing , the team behind the successful Tees Business publication .
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
The Wear Business team are now working on the summer issue .
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 .
Thousands of copies of Wear Business 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 .
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