Doug Morris has been named as the permanent managing editor of BBC Newcastle with immediate effect.
Morris has been covering the role for the past 12 months and was previously the station’s assistant editor.
He joined the BBC as a trainee in 1987 and was part of the start-up team for BBC Radio 5 live in 1994, covering the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the fall of Slobodan Milosovic in 2000.
As a BBC North of England correspondent he also reported widely for Radio 4’s Today programme and the BBC News channel.
Morris said: “This is the station I came to as a trainee many years ago. I’m incredibly proud of what the station has achieved over the last few years and am honoured to be asked to lead the best team in BBC local radio.”
Phil Roberts, head of region for the North East and Cumbria, added: “BBC Newcastle is an exceptional radio station and in Doug we have a fantastic editorial leader and programmer who will lead the station to the next level of continued success both in terms of radio and digital output.”
