The acquisition of Express Newspapers by Northern & Shell paves the way for Stan Myerson, the joint managing director of N&S and a former sales chief at The Express, to return to the newspaper to spearhead advertising sales.
N&S's owner, Richard Desmond, paid United News & Media pounds 125 million cash for the Daily Express, Sunday Express and the Daily Star in a deal signed on Wednesday.
Desmond has indicated that he hopes to keep the existing Express editorial team in place, including the editor, Rosie Boycott, though N&S's editorial director, Paul Ashford, will lead the new management team.
Under N&S the Express will take an independent political stance with a campaigning edge. N&S's OK! magazine will help target 18- to 34-year-olds by enhancing the papers' celebrity coverage.
