Emily Sheffield named as new editor of Evening Standard as George Osborne becomes editor-in-chief

Emily Sheffield has been named as the new editor of the Evening Standard, succeeding George Osborne, who will become editor-in-chief.

Ms Sheffield, a former deputy editor of Vogue, began her career at The Guardian and previously worked at the Evening Standard under editor Max Hastings.

The former chancellor will become the editor-in-chief of the London newspaper from next month after three years as editor.

Ms Sheffield, a current columnist at the Evening Standard, also launched the digital news brand ThisMuchIKnow and was a founder of Future News Innovation, of which she will remain director.

Evgeny Lebedev, owner of the Evening Standard, the sister title of The Independent, said he was “delighted” to announce her appointment despite a “very tough time” for both the newspaper and the city during coronavirus.

“We look forward to a bright future with a brilliant new editor who has read, written and breathed the Evening Standard for 20 years,” he said.

“I am also very pleased that after more than three years as an outstanding editor, George Osborne will become editor-in-chief. He will continue to champion the Evening Standard and its journalism.”

Ms Sheffield, whose sister Samantha is married to the former prime minister David Cameron, paid tribute to Mr Osborne and his team for ensuring the newspaper “was delivered every day during this pandemic”.

“It is a huge honour for me to take on the editorship,” she said.

“The Evening Standard has been a core part of my daily life ever since I moved to London, aged 18, and I spent five formative years with the paper as a young journalist during my twenties, returning two years ago as a columnist under George’s impressive leadership.”

She said there were “immense” opportunities in digital news but pledged that the printed edition “will be continuing as a key part of the London landscape”.

The former chancellor has been editor since March 2017, when he replaced Sarah Sands, who went on to edit the BBC’s Today programme.

He stood down as a Tory MP in the June 2017 election.

Mr Osborne said coronavirus had been “the greatest crisis” in the newspaper’s 200-year history.

“Together we’ve kept the Evening Standard alive in its own darkest hour and produced some of our finest journalism,” he said. “That’s a legacy I’m very proud to be part of.”

He added: “Now I look forward in my new role to helping Emily as she takes the Standard to the next stage of its journey. She’s one of the most creative, hard-working people I know with a clear vision of the future. It’s going to be very exciting.”