Peter Waters (pictured), 42, has been deputy editor for the last three years and takes over the role after the retirement last week of Peter Franzen OBE, after 16 years in the role.
"It's an honour and a privilege to be the new custodian of this unique title," said Peter. "As a Norfolk man myself I understand that the EDP is part of the fabric of this county and has a vital role to play in reflecting and championing what is happening here."
Peter returned to the Archant-owned morning newspaper in September 2006 after five years as a Cheltenham-based group publisher for Archant's Life magazine division. Between 1994 and 2001 he worked on the EDP as Tabloid Project Editor for the transition from broadsheet to a compact size, was launch editor of the Saturday magazine, the first in the regional newspaper industry, and then initiated and launched the EDP Norfolk glossy magazine.
"The fact that the Eastern Daily Press is the country's biggest-selling regional morning newspaper says a lot about its position at the heart of local life, but it is also testament to the achievements of Peter Franzen and the team he led for the past 16 years," said Peter.
"In a time of huge developments in information technology, our challenge now is to continue evolving the EDP brand to meet the changing requirements of our customers.
"The Eastern Daily Press is a trusted brand with an enviable reputation and it is up to us now to protect those qualities while delivering an improved multi-platform news and information service."
Peter began his career at the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Advertiser and East Anglian Post, where he became the youngest editor in the country at 18. He moved to the Northampton Chronicle & Echo at 21, becoming deputy chief sub editor, before working in Peterborough as a production editor for Thomson Newspapers and then deputy editor of EMAP's Evening Telegraph.
Archant Norfolk managing director Stephan Phillips said: "In making this appointment I am delighted that we have been able to promote from within our team. Peter has done an excellent job for us in his role as deputy editor and more recently on his secondment as the Head of Editorial Implementation for Archant Norfolk, where he has already set about leading the cultural change for the future. I'm sure he will continue that work as our new brand editor for the EDP and EDP24."
About the EDP
Archant says: “The EDP is the highest-selling regional morning title in the England and Wales, with a verified ABC circulation of 61,143 and a readership of 158,971.”
