David Montgomery is CEO of Local World, a company he founded three years ago when it acquired regional newspapers in England and Wales. Titles include the Nottingham Post, Leicester Mercury and the Western Morning News as well as thirteen other daily titles and around 70 weekly papers.
Previously David was CEO of the Mirror Group, publisher of five national newspapers, and editor of the News of the World and Today. As well as Local World he founded a European newspaper company Mecom Group Plc that acquired titles in six countries. He has also been involved in managing and owning newspapers in Northern Ireland his birthplace.
David has been active in the peace process and is a supporter of the integrated education movement that campaigns for schools with a mix of Catholic and Protestant as well as children of other faiths and cultures. He says that children learning together will produce peace and tolerance in the community.
1. What is your current position?
I am CEO of Local World one of the UK’s four main regional newspaper groups. Like all print publishers our revenue has been declining because of what is described as structural change. In simple terms more readers and advertisers are going online. However at Local World we are fighting back by continually expanding our content offering on our websites and maintaining the integrity of the local news we publish.
2. What are your proudest achievements?
I was the first member of my family to go to university and maintained a strong sense of belonging to a hard working society so chose mass market journalism, the national tabloid press, which seemed the most relevant means of communication. I am proud to have maintained that sense of identity with the readership through a career that has extended to local publishing that, of course, is closest to the community.
3. What inspires you?
This is the most exciting time in my career because the physical and geographical limitations of print have been cast off at last. Journalists and local publishers can serve the community around the clock through online and there is no restriction to the amount of content. Consequently we are informing our audience locally with enriched content spanning everything from service information like the bus timetable to lifestyle content from health to shopping. We are in the process of creating a revolution in the reporting of local government and the courts introducing a comprehensive service that will increase accountability of our institutions including the key public services.
4. What has been the biggest obstacle in your career?
Probably at times having a little too much drive and energy. Inevitably when there is a strong sense of purpose and a clear idea then there is a tendency to push ahead independently. With experience I hope I am now more likely to share problems and challenges with colleagues and achieve a more cohesive approach.
5. Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date?
I never forget the dedication of my parents. My father was an orphan and largely self-taught including learning the violin and my mother was a village postmistress with a prize for English. They like many in that post-war era made sacrifices to educate my brother and me and the work ethic and doing what was right was the example they set.
6. What is the best aspect about your current role?
Surprisingly, the revelation about local publishing is how it informs about the changes in society in recent times. The achievements of UK cities and their expanding pride and developing character is an untold story. There is no question now of waiting for Westminster to provide a handout – every city is self-starting with enterprise at its heart and our readers want their community to succeed. How inspiring is that.
7. And the worst?
Do I have to write yet another report for my board and shareholders when I would prefer to offer some political commentary to our readers well, yes, I do and once I get started putting down the company’s progress on a monthly basis is a discipline that challenges past decisions and future strategy. Anyway, as a newspaper manager I have to keep my political views to myself.
8. What are your long term goals?
Simply to participate in the media revolution that is under way and with my industry colleagues devise an operating model that will secure the future of local publishing including the printed newspapers.
9. If you were Prime Minister what one aspect would you change?
As a recent incumbent of Number 10 said it’s Education, Education and Education. From experience in Northern Ireland I recognise that if children work and learn under the same roof from the young age they forge friendships and share cultures in a way that not only produces good academic results but also a peaceful and productive society. So a single integrated system of education that is class, colour and creed blind and based on merit across all skills and talents is the change I would favour.
10. If you were marooned on a desert island which historical figure would you like to spend your time with and why?
I cannot imagine life without Mozart.
