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New Head of Sport for The Times

Les Snowdon returns to The Times as assistant editor and head of sport, replacing Tim Hallissey who is retiring from the paper after 24 years.

New Head of Sport for The Times
Les Snowdon: “I'm thrilled to be joining the Times' award-winning sports team, and to be working again for John Witherow.”

Les, currently assistant editor of The Sun, was previously Scotland editor for The Times, sports editor of the Daily Mail and deputy sports editor of The Sunday Times, among other positions.

In his career at The Times, Tim Hallissey has collected seven Sports Newspaper of the Year awards. He has mentored many star sports columnists for the paper including Matthew Syed, Michael Atherton, Matt Dickinson and Henry Winter.

Commenting on the appointments, John Witherow, editor of The Times, said: β€œI would like to thank Tim Hallissey for his superb stewardship of our sports department over many years. We will miss his warmth and good humour in the newsroom and wish him the very best for new adventures.

I am delighted to welcome Les Snowdon back, a versatile editor with a terrific track record, who will drive our journalism with his trademark energy and dedication.”

Tim Hallissey said: β€œIt has been a privilege to work with so many brilliant journalists on The Times sports desk and across the whole paper. I am particularly grateful to the three editors - Robert Thomson, James Harding, and John Witherow - who gave me the opportunity to live out the dream of any sports nut who just enjoys telling stories. Most of all I truly cherish the fun and friendships forged on the frontline of the daily battle against such fierce rivals.”

Les Snowdon said: "I'm thrilled to be joining the Times' award-winning sports team, and to be working again for John Witherow. Tim Hallissey has put together a team of world-class journalists, and it is a privilege to be following in his footsteps. Working for Tony Gallagher at The Sun has been an absolute blast."