Geordie Greig to become editor of Mail on Sunday

London Evening Standard editor Geordie Greig is to replace Peter Wright as editor of the Mail on Sunday editor.

Greig, who has been editor of the Standard for three years, takes over from Wright, editor of the Mail on Sunday for the past 14 years.

Sarah Sands has been appointed acting editor of the Standard and will take up the post from 1 April 2012.

Wright will take responsibility for ethics and standards across the group of Associated Newspapers' titles, assuming the role of "editor emeritus of the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, Metro and Mail Online".

Paul Dacre, Associated Newspapers' editor-in-chief, said in a statement: "I'm delighted to welcome Geordie Greig from the Standard, which he has edited with such élan."

He paid tribute to Wright saying that he has "made a huge contribution to the Mail on Sunday – a paper he has edited with selflessness and huge journalistic skill over a period of great change".

"It is to the considerable benefit of Associated that he has decided to take on this important and challenging new role."

Lord Rothermere, chairman of parent company the Daily Mail & General Trust, said in the statement: "I'm delighted to welcome Geordie Greig who has made such a success of the Standard and I believe will bring great strengths to the Mail on Sunday and its magazines, You and Live.

London Evening Standard chairman, Evgeny Lebedev, said in a statement that the newspaper "continues in safe hands" with Sands taking the reins.

"I am very grateful to Geordie for all that he has achieved as editor over the past three years.

"The London Evening Standard has never been as popular or as influential as it is today - as its current position as Newspaper of the Year confirms."

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