Simon Kelner

Simon Kelner (born 1957, Heywood, Lancashire) is a British journalist and newspaper editor. Kelner was editor-in-chief of The Independent and Independent on Sunday newspapers. He was appointed in May 1998 to succeed Andrew Marr and Rosie Boycott and ended his tenure in 2008. After a stint as Managing Director of the Independent titles he was reappointed editor in April 2010 by the new owner Alexander Lebedev.

Early life

He attended Bury Grammar School on Tenterden Street in Bury. He qualified in journalism at the former Preston Polytechnic, now the University of Central Lancashire.He has an Honorary Fellowship from the department of Journalism, Media and Communication, University of Central Lancashire^{[citation needed]}

Career

Kelner started at the Neath Guardian in 1976, staying there until 1979. From 1980-3, he worked as a sports reporter at the Kent Evening Post. He joined The Observer in 1983 as assistant sports editor, then The Independent as deputy sports editor in 1986, where he stayed until 1989. He was then sports editor of the now defunct Sunday Correspondent, editor of The Observer magazine, and also the Mail on Sunday supplement Night and Day. He rejoined The Independent as editor when Alexander Lebedev bought the newspaper. He was replaced as editor by Chris Blackhurst, former city editor of the Evening Standard, on 2 July, 2011. He is now the chief executive of The Journalism Foundation, set up to "promote and sustain free journalism in a free world." www.thejournalismfoundation.com

Awards

Kelner won several awards whilst at The Independent, including Editor of the Year in 2004 and 2010. His accolades followed the radical decision in September 2003 to relaunch The Independent in compact format, which proved to have an immediate and sustained uplift in sales, and which also acted as the catalyst for other broadsheet newspapers across the world shrinking in size. This success saw him become one of the longest-serving editors in the short history of The Independent.

Personal life

He married the cartoonist Sally Ann Lasson (b. 7 May 1959) in September 2001 in the borough of Kensington and Chelsea; they live in Marylebone. He married his first wife, Karen Bowden, in May 1988 in Islington; they have a daughter Phoebe (born May 1989). His elder brother Martin Kelner is also a journalist, as well as an established radio presenter. He follows Swinton Rugby League Club and supports Manchester City.

External links

• Works by or about Simon Kelner in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
• Simon Kelner collected news and commentary at The Guardian

Media offices
Preceded by Rosie Boycott and Andrew Marr	Editor of The Independent 1998 - 2008	Succeeded by Roger Alton
Preceded by Roger Alton	Editor of The Independent 2010–2011	Succeeded by Chris Blackhurst
Preceded by New position	Editor of i 2010–2011	Succeeded by Stefano Hatfield