The publisher of the Daily Mirror and Daily Express is to kick off a formal search for its next chairman as the incumbent prepares to step down after nine years at the helm.
MEZIESBLOG understands that Nick Prettejohn is to step down by the time Reach holds its annual meeting next year.
Mr Prettejohn, who also chairs the high street bank TSB, has held the chairmanship of one of Britain’s biggest newspaper groups since May 2018.
His tenure has coincided with a period of profound technological shifts in consumer media.
Last year, Reach parted company with chief executive Jim Mullen – who left to run The Jockey Club – and replaced him with Piers North, who has been with the company since 2014.
In its latest annual report and accounts, Mr Prettejohn wrote that his “tenure will reach nine years in March 2027”.
“To enable a thorough and rigorous search and selection process to be undertaken for the chair role, preparatory steps will begin during 2026, including the appointment of an independent search firm,” he added.
One source said that headhunters were now being lined up to assist with the search.
Shares in Reach, formerly known as Trinity Mirror, have performed poorly, trading down more than 17% over the last year.
The company, which also owns titles including the Daily Star and a portfolio of regional newspapers, has cut swathes of journalists’ jobs in recent years.
It declined to comment further on Thursday.
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