LONDON and NEW YORK, March 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Dow Jones has announced key editorial appointments in Europe, representing a significant step in the creation of a unified news engine to power its outlets around the world.

Thorold Barker has been named to the newly-created role of editor, Europe, Middle East and Africa for Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal. 

In his new role, Mr. Barker will oversee the news output of all publications and news services in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, including the print, digital and local language websites of The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones Newswires and Financial News.  He will also work on expanding the company's news platforms in the region, drawing on the content of Dow Jones' global network of 2,000 journalists.

Gren Manuel has been appointed executive editor for Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal, reporting to Mr. Barker.  He will spearhead newsroom integration in the region, overseeing the operations of the combined newsroom, and working closely with Mr. Barker on the development and expansion of new content and platform opportunities.  He currently heads up Dow Jones Newswires in EMEA.   

In a related move, Tracy Corrigan, editor-in-chief in Europe for The Wall Street Journal, has been promoted to the role of digital editor for The Wall Street Journal, tasked with leading the expansion of the Journal's flagship digital publication and overseeing the development of WSJ.com, mobile platforms, social media, and premium digital initiatives.  She will report to Almar Latour, executive editor of The Wall Street Journal, and will be based in New York.

Gerard Baker, managing editor of The Wall Street Journal and editor in chief of Dow Jones & Company, said, "As we continue to build an integrated newsroom tasked to pursue our global ambitions, an expanded role in Europe ranks among our highest priorities.  Given the size of our presence in the region, it represents a tremendous opportunity for us to refine and grow our peerless range of news products and take them to an even wider audience."

About Mr. Barker
Mr. Barker joined The Wall Street Journal in 2008 as editor of "Heard on the Street" and during that time has recreated the column as the premier destination for insightful global commentary and analysis on economic, financial and corporate affairs.  He began his career as a strategy consultant for Bain & Co, moving to journalism in 1998 when he joined the Financial Times, first as a reporter and then as U.S. editor of the FT's Lex column.

About Mr. Manuel
Mr. Manuel is currently senior editor, Dow Jones Newswires, EMEA.  He started his journalism career in Asia, first as a reporter and columnist for the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong, and then at the Hong Kong bureau of the Wall Street Journal. He joined Dow Jones Newswires in 2001 when he returned to London.  Prior to his time in Asia he wrote on a freelance basis for a wide variety of U.K. publications including the Financial Times, The Guardian and The Observer.

About Ms. Corrigan
Prior to joining The Wall Street Journal in December 2010, Ms. Corrigan was an assistant editor and columnist at the UK's Daily Telegraph.  She also held several senior roles at the Financial Times, including editor of FT.com and editor of the Lex column.  As editor-in-chief of The Wall Street Journal in Europe, Ms. Corrigan has overseen the digital and print editions of The Wall Street Journal in the EMEA region, along with The Wall Street Journal Deutschland and Financial News. 

SOURCE Dow Jones & Company