- The former National World has appointed Morgan Stevenson as its new chief growth officer
- Stevenson brings extensive digital and commercial experience from Newsquest and other roles
- The move signals a strategic push towards digital subscriptions and sustainable growth in regional media
Iconic, formerly known as National World, has secured a significant appointment in its leadership ranks by recruiting Morgan Stevenson as its new chief growth officer.
Stevenson joins Iconic under its new ownership, Media Concierge, which acquired the company from David Montgomery in May.
With a commanding portfolio of 150 regional news brands across the UK and Ireland –including prominent titles like The Scotsman, The Yorkshire Post and the Portsmouth News – Iconic is signalling a robust commitment to accelerating its digital and commercial transformation.
Stevenson is tasked with overseeing group-wide strategy, digital transformation and commercial performance initiatives at Iconic. The company characterises him as one of the most experienced and forward-thinking digital leaders in UK regional media.
Malcolm Denmark, Iconic’s chief executive, praised Stevenson’s proven ability to marry commercial performance improvements with large-scale transformational leadership. “His track record speaks for itself, and his experience will bring real momentum to our strategic ambition,” he said.
Before this move, Stevenson spent nearly six years at Newsquest, where he was instrumental in driving the company’s digital transformation and audience monetisation strategies. His tenure saw sustained year-on-year revenue growth and a critical acceleration of Newsquest’s shift towards digital-first business models. During his time there, Newsquest built a substantial base of more than 135,000 paid digital subscriptions, with recent milestones such as the Southern Daily Echo surpassing 5,000.
Stevenson’s expertise in digital marketing and commercial innovation, honed through previous roles including Digital Innovation Director at Trinity Mirror, Commercial Development Director at Local World, and Head of Display at Johnston Press, has been pivotal in his career.
At Iconic, several of its larger titles, including The Yorkshire Post and The Scotsman, already deploy digital subscription models. Stevenson expressed enthusiasm about joining the compa. “Iconic has an outstanding portfolio and an ambitious leadership team that understands the importance of innovation and sustainable growth,” he said. “I’m thrilled to be joining at such an exciting time and look forward to working with colleagues across the business to accelerate our digital and commercial transformation.”
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://londonjournal.co.uk/2025/11/01/iconic-formerly-national-world-poaches-newsquest-transformation-director-morgan-stevenson/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.theofficialboard.com/biography/morgan-stevenson-62g32 – Morgan Stevenson is the Digital Transformation Director at Newsquest, responsible for delivering digital marketing solutions for local businesses and developing the Newsquest Sales Academy. He has previously held positions as Digital Innovation Director at Trinity Mirror, Commercial Development Director at Local World, and Head of Display at Johnston Press. His extensive experience in digital transformation and commercial development makes him a key figure in Newsquest’s strategic initiatives.
- https://www.theofficialboard.com/biography/toby-granville-e6516 – Toby Granville serves as the Editorial Development Director at Newsquest. He began his career in 1990 at the Sunday People and gained his first editorship at The Wharf, which won Newspaper of the Year under his leadership. Since joining Newsquest in 2002, he has edited several award-winning daily titles, including the Dorset Echo and Bournemouth Daily Echo, and was named Editor of the Year in 2011. In his current role, he leads the editorial strategy throughout Newsquest’s newsrooms.
- https://www.theofficialboard.com/biography/simon-hill-30g41 – Simon Hill is the Product Director at Newsquest, leading the digital product, UX, and technology teams across all news publishing and verticals, including recruitment, homes, and motors. He manages teams in London, Glasgow, Bournemouth, and the Midlands. Prior to joining Newsquest, Simon was Digital Tech Director at Haymarket Media Group and has held various roles in other digital-first companies and agencies. He is passionate about product-led, agile development.
- https://www.theofficialboard.com/biography/morgan-stevenson-62g32 – Morgan Stevenson is the Digital Transformation Director at Newsquest, responsible for delivering digital marketing solutions for local businesses and developing the Newsquest Sales Academy. He has previously held positions as Digital Innovation Director at Trinity Mirror, Commercial Development Director at Local World, and Head of Display at Johnston Press. His extensive experience in digital transformation and commercial development makes him a key figure in Newsquest’s strategic initiatives.
- https://www.theofficialboard.com/biography/morgan-stevenson-62g32 – Morgan Stevenson is the Digital Transformation Director at Newsquest, responsible for delivering digital marketing solutions for local businesses and developing the Newsquest Sales Academy. He has previously held positions as Digital Innovation Director at Trinity Mirror, Commercial Development Director at Local World, and Head of Display at Johnston Press. His extensive experience in digital transformation and commercial development makes him a key figure in Newsquest’s strategic initiatives.
- https://www.theofficialboard.com/biography/morgan-stevenson-62g32 – Morgan Stevenson is the Digital Transformation Director at Newsquest, responsible for delivering digital marketing solutions for local businesses and developing the Newsquest Sales Academy. He has previously held positions as Digital Innovation Director at Trinity Mirror, Commercial Development Director at Local World, and Head of Display at Johnston Press. His extensive experience in digital transformation and commercial development makes him a key figure in Newsquest’s strategic initiatives.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is fresh, with no prior publications found. The earliest known publication date is November 1, 2025. The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were identified. No earlier versions show different information. The article includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The direct quotes from Malcolm Denmark and Morgan Stevenson are unique to this report, with no identical matches found online. This suggests potentially original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score:
5
Notes:
The narrative originates from the London Journal, a publication with limited online presence and credibility. This raises concerns about the reliability of the information presented.
Plausability check
Score:
7
Notes:
The claims about Morgan Stevenson’s appointment and his previous role at Newsquest are plausible and align with known industry trends. However, the lack of coverage from other reputable outlets and the obscure nature of the source raise questions about the authenticity of the report. The tone and language used are consistent with typical corporate communications, but the limited information from other sources makes it difficult to fully verify the claims.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative presents a fresh report on Morgan Stevenson’s appointment at Iconic, with unique quotes and plausible claims. However, the reliance on a press release and the limited credibility of the source raise concerns about the authenticity and reliability of the information. The lack of coverage from other reputable outlets further diminishes confidence in the report’s accuracy.
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