Sarah Baxter is to step down from her role as deputy editor of The Sunday Times. 

Ben Taylor, currently the executive editor of the Daily Mail, has been appointed to the role and will start this summer.

Sarah said:

"I've had so many adventures and experiences at The Sunday Times. I've reported on the 9/11 attacks in New York, the election of Barack Obama in Washington, celebrated the Magazine's 50th anniversary with 300,000 visitors at the Saatchi gallery and covered more British elections and referendums than I imagined possible in the last few years. It has been a great privilege to work with such wonderful colleagues and brilliant writers and I'll miss them all, but I'm excited to be moving back to the US."

Rebekah Brooks, CEO News UK, said:

“As deputy editor Sarah has brought skilful leadership to the paper and as a columnist she has had a unique and fearless voice. I thank her for her distinctive contribution to The Sunday Times as a great writer, editor and ambassador over the last 24 years, and I wish her every success in the US.” 

Since joining The Sunday Times nearly 25 years ago Sarah has had an outstanding career in several roles, including News Review editor, New York correspondent, Washington bureau chief, Sunday Times Magazine editor, deputy editor and op-ed columnist, and also served on the Times board. She will be moving back to the US to write a book and report on US affairs.

Ben Taylor, currently the executive editor of the Daily Mail, will be joining The Sunday Times as deputy editor in the summer. He joined the Mail in 1998 as a casual news reporter and has also held the positions of crime correspondent and news editor, and before that worked on local newspapers in Birmingham.

Ben said:

“I am both thrilled and honoured to accept the position of deputy editor at The Sunday Times – one of the world’s great newspapers. I thank everyone at the Daily Mail for a wonderful 21 years and the opportunities given to me by Paul Dacre and Geordie Greig. This is a fantastic chance to work with a highly talented team of journalists and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Emma Tucker, The Sunday Times editor, said:

“Sarah has had an exceptional career at The Sunday Times and has served with distinction and flair. I’d like to thank her for her tremendous contribution to the paper and I am especially grateful for her help and support when I joined the paper. 

“I’m delighted Ben will be joining as my deputy. He is a brilliant addition to the talented newsroom team and I look forward to working with him.”