Richard Fletcher has started today as Business Editor of The Times. He joins from The Daily Telegraph where he was Editor of Telegraph.co.uk for two years having previously been City Editor.

It is a return to the News UK stable for Richard as from 2004 until 2006 he was Financial Editor and then City Editor of The Sunday Times.

John Witherow, Editor of The Times says: “I am delighted to welcome Richard to The Times. He brings experience, energy and a formidable network of contacts to the role.

“Our Business pages continue to provide comprehensive financial coverage and analysis, and we have plans to enhance them further. Richard will be key in delivering these changes, cementing The Times as the leading newspaper for the best business news."

Says Richard: “I’ve long admired The Times’ Business section; it represents best-in-class financial journalism. I'm very excited to be returning to writing about business."

A ‘Business Elite Survey’ carried out last autumn by IPSOS ranked The Times’ Business pages as the most read amongst those in a c-suite position – i.e. at chairman, chief executive or executive director level.