COMMUNITY media company Archant has announced senior management changes within its Archant Anglia division, which manages print and digital publishing assets across East Anglia.

Archant Anglia managing director Johnny Hustler has announced the appointments of Bob Crawley to the new role of publishing director and James Gurney to a new commercial director role with responsibility across the Archant Norfolk and Archant Suffolk business units.

James Gurney joined Archant in September 2011 as commercial director of Archant Suffolk, and his promotion to the new regional role recognises his record in Suffolk, where there has been a turnaround in performance with an especially strong focus on new business growth.

He has worked in publishing for 16 years, since graduating from Brunel University in London with a degree in business management and law. He has held senior roles at organisations including Computer Publishing, LSN Media and Iliffe News & Media, and, together with two business partners, also ran his own business, Publishing Partners, for a time.

James, 37, and his wife, Daniela, have two children, George, four, and Ellia, two. His interests have included cycling, tennis, squash and running, but with family activities now to the fore.

Bob Crawley has a distinguished record at Archant, having previously been editor of the Evening News in Norwich, managing director of contract publishing division Archant Dialogue and consumer and lifestyle magazine business Archant Specialist and also editorial director of Archant London.

The editors of all four of Archant Anglia’s daily titles, which include the East Anglian Daily Times, will report to Bob, whose brief is to ensure that the Norfolk and Suffolk portfolio continues to please its audience whilst providing commercial clients with the media environment they require. His new role will begin in August 2012.

As a result of the changes, Chris Moore, who joined the group in 2011 as commercial director for Archant Norfolk, will be leaving the company.

Johnny Hustler said: “I am delighted to have completed the hiring of my senior team in Anglia. We now have experienced and skilled leaders in each function and on all platforms.”