LONDON, June 16, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Wall Street Journal today appointed Patience Wheatcroft as editor-in-chief, Europe, overseeing The Wall Street Journal Europe and taking the lead role in its editorial expansion across the continent, and in particular, the growth of digital content.

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Ms. Wheatcroft will be based in London and report to Robert Thomson, managing editor of The Wall Street Journal and editor-in-chief of Dow Jones & Company. From next month, she will oversee the transition to an integrated London newsroom, with the relocation of the Journal Europe's editorial and online teams from Brussels.

"The time has come for the Journal to take on the European market, in print and online. We have a world-class reporting presence in Europe and an unrivalled international business news franchise," said Mr. Thomson. "The combination of these assets and Patience's extensive experience in media and business will make the Journal a formidable force in Europe."

Ms. Wheatcroft added, "I'm thrilled to be joining the world's finest business newspaper, and to help lead the charge in Europe. I'm particularly excited about the additional strengths an integrated London newsroom will bring to what is already a phenomenal brand."

The Journal launched a dedicated European web site earlier this year edited by Neil McIntosh, and is soon to announce a new management team for Europe under the leadership of publisher Andrew Langhoff.

"The appointment of Patience as our new editor for Europe is a sure sign of our long-term commitment to the European market, and a significant investment for future growth," said Mr. Langhoff. "It marks a fresh new start in Europe as we work smarter to target new readers, develop additional attractive advertising opportunities, and create content that speaks directly to our audience," he said.

Ms. Wheatcroft was editor of the UK's Sunday Telegraph between 2006-2007 and prior to that, was business and city editor of The Times for almost a decade. During her tenure, The Times attracted more business readers than any of its UK competitors*; a position it still holds. In 1987, Ms. Wheatcroft launched specialist retail publication Retail Week, and edited it for five years, while at the same time also launching a successful complementary conference business. From 1994-1997, she was deputy city editor of the Mail on Sunday.

In the past 18 months, her business experience has been enhanced by non-executive directorships at Barclays and property company Shaftesbury and last year she chaired the Mayor of London's Forensic Audit Panel.

Ms. Wheatcroft received a Law degree from Birmingham University and an honorary doctorate from City University.

*Source: British Business Survey: 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2008. Competitors include quality dailies in the UK

About The Wall Street Journal

Founded in 1889, The Wall Street Journal, the flagship publication of Dow Jones & Company is the world's leading business publication and holds 33 Pulitzer Prizes for outstanding journalism. The Wall Street Journal has a print and online circulation of more than 2 million, reaching the nation's top business and political leaders, as well as investors across the country. The Wall Street Journal boasts the largest individually paid circulation out of the top 25 U.S. newspapers. Other publications that are part of The Wall Street Journal franchise, with a global audience of 3.8 million, include The Wall Street Journal Asia and The Wall Street Journal Europe. The Wall Street Journal Online at WSJ.com is the leading provider of business and financial news and analysis on the Web with more than one million subscribers and 26 million users per month. WSJ.com is the flagship site of The Wall Street Journal Digital Network, which also includes MarketWatch.com, Barrons.com and AllThingsD.com. In 2009, the Journal was ranked No. 1 in BtoB's Media Power 50 for the 10th consecutive year. The Wall Street Journal Radio Network services news and information to more than 350 radio stations in the U.S.

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