HB Today editor resigns

The editor of Hawke's Bay Today, Antony Phillips (pictured), is leaving his position to take up a new role in Sydney.

APN NZ regionals chief operating officer Rick Neville said Mr Phillips would leave Hawke's Bay Today in March. A search would begin immediately for his replacement.

Mr Phillips is returning to his previous employer, Pagemasters, a subsidiary of Australian Associated Press (AAP). Pagemasters is an editorial production house. In his previous role, Mr Phillips was managing editor of Pagemasters' Auckland operation, which provides editorial production services for APN's newspapers.

"We are sorry to be losing Antony, who has done a fine job leading APN's editorial team in Hawke's Bay. The paper made strong progress under his editorship."

Mr Phillips said it had been a privilege to edit Hawke's Bay Today, a paper at the heart of its community.

"Hawke's Bay Today has such a talented staff that, in truth, the role of editor has been a real pleasure for me.

"My wife, Andrea, and I have loved living in Hawke's Bay and, of course, our son, Benjamin, was born here. We intend to keep a home in the Bay."

The general manager of Hawke's Bay Today, Russell Broughton, thanked Mr Phillips for his time as editor.

"Ant has been popular with staff and the community and has done a first-class job as editor.

"While it is sad to see him go, we should all wish him well for his next professional challenge."