DORSET Echo and Bournemouth Daily Echo chief Toby Granville has been named Editor of the Year.

Toby was recognised in Newsquest’s annual excellence awards for his achievements as editor of the Dorset Echo in Weymouth during 2011.

The 38-year-old was awarded by the company – which publishes over 200 newspapers – for demonstrating leadership, motivation and inspiration, creativity, cost control and quality.

He was particularly praised for the Dorset Echo’s success throughout the year as the best performing daily newspaper for sales and for creating a digital strategy that saw its website achieve the greatest audience growth in Newsquest in 2011.

Toby, who was appointed group editor of both the Dorset Echo and the Daily Echo in December, said: “I am delighted to have been named Editor of the Year, and I would like to dedicate this award to my hard-working team for helping me achieve it.”

Newsquest Dorset managing director Vincent Boni said: “Toby is a tower of strength and creativity that we all benefit from. Under Toby’s group editorship I am looking forward to seeing development of our teams and products.”