The paper's current editor, Simon Kelner, will become managing director and retain his role as editor-in-chief.

BBC: The Independent gets new editor

Robert Kelner offers an important general caveat to any such evidence of a ground-breaking rapprochement between shareholders and corporate political contributors.

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Mr Kelner, who was appointed editor of the Independent in 1998, was named editor of the year in 1999 and in 2003.

BBC: The Independent gets new editor