London - Simon Kelner has been appointed editor of the London Independent and Independent on Sunday. Mr Kelner (40), who was a member of the Independent's original launch team, is joining Independent Newspapers (UK) Ltd from Associated Newspapers, where he was editor of the Mail on Sunday's Night & Day magazine.
Ian Birrell (36), executive editor of the Daily Mail, is also joining the Independent as deputy editor. Andrew Marr, formerly the editor-in-chief of the Independent and Independent on Sunday, has left "to progress other career opportunities", the company said.