DAVID Benjamin is the youthful new managing director who will take the commercial helm of the Manchester Evening News on April 1.

His appointment at the relatively tender age of 30 continues a career path which saw him become the paper's financial director just five years ago.

However, he has a clear view of the challenges he faces running a newspaper business which has dominated the Manchester media scene for as long as most people can remember.

''The Manchester Evening News is a successful and profitable business. Despite the slowdown in the advertising market it is our intention to continue that for the long term,'' he said. ''But in a changing market we are required to develop and launch new products and our focus will be to establish an appropriate relationship between newspapers, TV and the internet, so that we can continue to dominate the Manchester market.''

Mr Benjamin, who is single and has lived in Didsbury for eight years, joined the M.E.N. as a financial analyst in 1993. Having studied for a degree in European Business in London, he later completed an MBA in Manchester. He spent a year at Perpignan University completing in French written studies on media, communication and business.

As M.E.N. finance director, he was also appointed financial director for the group's regional newspapers, with responsibility for titles in Cheshire, Lancashire, Surrey and Berkshire. He is also on the board of the internet subsidiary GMG Regional Digital and Channel M Television, the terrestrial TV venture owned by the Manchester Evening News and Salford University.

Long history in the industry

Helping him to continue the success story in the 21st century will be Mark Rix, taking on the role of deputy managing director from April 1, while continuing as advertisement director. Mr Rix, 38, was appointed to the M.E.N. board in September 1997. He began his working life in the Royal Navy before qualifying as a gold miner in South Africa.

His first newspaper job was at the Wigan Observer in 1984, where he remained for two-and-a-half years before joining the Manchester Evening News as a sales representative in 1986.

In 1991 he joined the Yorkshire Post as display advertising manager, remaining for two years before returning to the Manchester Evening News in June 1993. He is currently completing an MBA at Salford University and is married with a daughter. He said: ''It is an extremely exciting challenge for me personally. As the second city in the UK, the opportunities and challenges that are presented to us with events such as the Commonwealth Games, make it a great time to live and work in Manchester.

''It will be a very rewarding place to be, in particular working with the high profile and established brands within the Manchester Evening News portfolio.''

Both Mr Benjamin and Mr Rix have worked at industry level with the Newspaper Society and the World Association of Newspapers (WAN).

The Manchester Evening News is also publisher of the weekly and daily Manchester Metro titles, City Life, Jobs North West and Greater Manchester Jobs. The company is also a significant partner in the Manchester Online website, Channel M television and Fish4, the internet advertising website.

New role

Ian Ashcroft, who currently holds the title of M.E.N. managing director and chairman, will now concentrate solely on his role as chief executive of Guardian Media Group's Regional Newspapers division, which publishes the title.

Announcing the new appointments, he said that the Manchester Evening News had only achieved its dominant position through constant evolution. He added: ''The MEN has played a key role in Manchester for over 100 years. This can only be achieved by constantly evolving with the changing needs of the people in the region.

''For this we need new people and new blood at the top to keep in line with change, but people who understand the traditions of the paper.

''We must move constantly with the changing needs of the people of Manchester.

''What is particularly good about this is that we have been able to bring through two relatively young people who have the ability to bring this change of pace.

''They have both spent a fair amount of time at the Manchester Evening News and understand the newspaper and the community. They also bring different experience from outside to ensure that we don't stultify.''

In another appointment, Alistair Sheret, general manager of the M.E.N, will become finance and strategy director of GMG Regional Newspapers. The position of M.E.N. editor Paul Horrocks, overseen by the owners, the Scott Trust, is not affected by the commercial changes.

DAVID Benjamin has established a designated e-mail address for anyone wishing to contact him, on managing.director@men-news.co.uk

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