The Guardian appoints Kath Viner as first female editor in its 194-year history
The Guardian has appointed its first female editor in its 194 year history, confirming Kath Viner in the role today.
Viner, who is currently editor-in-chief of Guardian US, will pick up the reins from Alan Rusbridger this summer. She had been a favourite to take on the role.
Rusbridger is standing down after 20 years at the helm.
Viner will be the paper's 12th editor since it was founded in 1821, having been the first choice of the Guardian staff ballott earlier this month, in which she secured 53 per cent of the vote.
Viner joined the Guardian in 1997 and has been a deputy editor of the title as well as editing the Saturday edition of the newspaper from 2008 until 2012. She was then given responsibility for launching the Guardian’s Australian operation, building it to a team of 40 over 16 months.
Last summer, Viner mover to New York to take the role of editor-in-chief of Guardian US.
Viner is the first state school educated editor since Alfred Wadsworth, who held the post between 1944 and 1956. She attended Ripon Grammar School before studying at Oxford University. She spent three years at the Sunday Times before joining the Guardian.
Rusbridger is to take up the role of chairman of the Scott Trust, the ultimate parent of the Guardian and Observer newspapers, at the start of 2016, replacing Liz Forgan when she ends her term as chair.
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