Reuters shuffles top editorial team

Mark Thompson, managing editor, Europe, Middle East and Africa, will take up the new post at the end of June. He will remain based in London and report to Chris Cramer, global editor, multimedia.

Thompson, pictured, is tasked with providing leadership, managerial oversight and strategic editorial direction of Reuters TV and pictures and their associated units such as graphics.

"I am thrilled to ask Mark to partner with me to drive the next phase of our multimedia strategy" Cramer said in an announcement on Friday. "His management experience and journalistic integrity are coupled with a keen appreciation of our client and customer needs."

Reuters restructured its multimedia division in February 2009, bringing five global editorial groups - television, pictures, Reuters financial video service, online and agency - under its remit. Earlier this month the division launched Reuters Insider, a business-to-business video news platform.

Brian Rhoads, managing editor, The Americas, is appointed to the vacant Asia managing editor’s job formerly held by Adrian Dickson. Rhoads will move to Hong Kong from New York in July to oversee editorial operations of more than 500 journalists across Asia. He will continue to report to Betty Wong, global managing editor.

Rhoads became managing editor for the Americas following Wong’s promotion two years ago. A Mandarin speaker, he was previously Beijing-based North Asia editor responsible for China, Taiwan, Korea and Hong Kong and China bureau chief, Shanghai bureau chief and a senior editor on news production desks in Hong Kong and Singapore.

"Brian will take his experience and talent running a complex editorial operation back to his old stomping grounds,”  Wong said. “News from the established and emerging markets in Asia is of keen interest to our readers and customers and Brian will help keep Reuters competitive edge there". ■