The editor of the EADT (East Anglian Daily Times) and Ipswich Star is to become the new head of communications at Babergh.

Brad Jones, will join the district council, and its neighbour Mid Suffolk, in July and replace Andrew St Ledger, who is expected to stay on at Suffolk County Council.

Mr Jones has served as the editor of either one or both of the Archant titles since 2016 in a career with the publisher that has lasted more than a quarter of a century.

His current job is being advertised by Archant's new owner Newsquest

Talking too trade magazine Hold the Front Page, Mr Jones said: "I've loved my time at the EADT and Ipswich Star, and worked with some fantastic people.

"I feel particularly lucky to have edited the titles too. I wish them all the best in the future.

"While I'm sad to be leaving after so long, I'm really looking forward to this new challenge."

A spokesperson for Babergh said: "We're looking forward to Brad joining us as we know he is passionate about championing our districts. As well as helping everyone to understand how we are improving quality of life for our residents, businesses, and communities, Brad is ideally placed to help us develop and deliver a communications and engagement strategy that not only informs our audiences, but also listens to them. 

"We would also like to thank Andrew St Ledger, Head of Communications at Suffolk County Council, who stepped into the additional part-time role of supporting Babergh and Mid Suffolk and led the team through the unprecedented communications challenges of the Covid pandemic."

Newsquest editorial director Toby Granville took to social media to say: "Really sad to see Brad Jones go.

"He's a great editor and a top bloke – and the door is always open at Newsquest."

Ipswich-born Brad previously served for a decade as news editor of the two sister dailies adding the Star to his EADT editor portfolio in 2016. At the time, he became the title's first dedicated editor in four years after its editorship was merged with that of the EADT by Archant in 2012.

Sales have dramatically dropped for the EADT and Star over the past 10 years, and both trail Nub News as the number one Google-ranked online news platforms for Hadleigh and the Shotley peninsula, which are both wholly within Babergh.

Newsquest took over Archant in March this year after the company went into administration.