Jason Seiken resignation: Telegraph editor-in-chief quits after just 18 months in role

The former head of digital at PBS announced his resignation on Thursday

Jason Seiken (Getty Images)

The editor-in-chief of Telegraph Media Group, Jason Seiken, has stood down from the role after just 18 months.

Seiken was hired in September 2013 and made the move from head of digital at US broadcaster PBS to take up the newly created job title of chief content officer and editor-in-chief.

He was brought in, the Telegraph said at the time, to oversee the company's "transition to a fully intergrated digital business".

But on Thursday, Seiken announced that he was to quit his role at the newspaper.

In a statement, Seiken said: "I’m proud of how the Telegraph has become a digital leader, and I’m gratified that the Telegraph has seen such a large growth in its digital audience.

"The company has a great future and will continue to thrive. I wish all my colleagues at the Telegraph the very best for the future."

The Telegraph's chief executive, Murdoch MacLennan, said the newspaper "completely understood Jason's regrettable decision to move on to new opportunities".

Read more: Questions over Seiken after Tony Gallagher exit

In October, Seiken's role was altered to re-assign him to non-editorial duties, though he retained the title of editor-in-chief.

Chris Evans, who took over at the top of the editorial pile from Seiken, will continue as editor of the Daily Telegraph and director of content across other titles, a TMG spokesperson told The Independent.

The group said it had "restructured its editorial operation to put digital at the forefront" under Seiken, and MacLennan said "we wish him well".

"He has been a much-valued colleague, providing a great deal of input into identifying future strategy for the Telegraph Media Group to ensure we remain a world-class and commercially successful media organisation," the chief executive said.

The announcement of Seiken's departure this morning also included the news that Matthew Bayley will be joining the Telegraph from Sky News as Head of Content Strategy, as well as Jane Bruton from Grazia as Director of Lifestyle.