Former Telegraph editor takes director role at marketing agency
A FORMER Derby Telegraph editor has joined website, creative and digital marketing agency Purpose Media as a non-executive director.
Steve Hall – who was also editorin-chief for Telegraph parent company Reach Plc across the East Midlands – has been brought in to help and support the management team led by managing director Matt Wheatcroft and directors Tim Lenton and Claudio Devanzo.
Mr Hall left Reach at the end of 2018, shortly before joining the board of East Midlands marketing and brand agency Champions (UK) Plc, a post he left last summer. He has 37 years’ experience in
journalism and running newspaper businesses and news operations across eight sites, including Derby, Nottingham and Leicester.
He was named UK Editor of the Year in 2011, and twice won the UK
Regional Newspaper of the Year award. He also holds a non-executive director role at Marketing Derby, where he is publisher of its Innovate magazine.
Based in South Normanton on the Notts/Derby border, Purpose employs more than 30 website development, creative and digital marketing specialists and is planning to expand the team with at least three new appointments by the summer.
Mr Hall said: “I am delighted to be joining a company which is packed full of energy, talent, creativity and ambition, and I hope to guide future decisions in order to capitalise on the current high demand for digital marketing skills.”
Matt Wheatcroft said: “I have always acknowledged the value non-executive directors can bring to a growing business like Purpose Media as their prior insight and knowledge is invaluable. Steve has definitely ‘been there and got the T-shirt’ and successfully guided many businesses through economic booms and dips. I am really pleased to have him on our team.”
Mr Hall runs his own consultancy and chairs the Derby County Community Trust. He is also an associate lecturer in journalism at the University of Derby.