The editor of the Edinburgh Evening News, Tom Little, is leaving, for a new post at the City of Edinburgh Council.

Little is to become Head of Policy and Public Affairs at the council, though no joining date has yet been decided.

In a memo to staff, he writes: "[Being editor] has been by some way the most enjoyable time of my professional life. I think I am leaving the paper in good fettle and I know I am leaving it with a dedicated and talented staff." 

He has been editor of the Evening News since May 2009.

Little has been with the paper's publishers, The Scotsman Publications Ltd (part of Johnston Press), in one guise or another since 1993, starting out as a reporter at the Evening News. He spent two-and-a-half years at the Daily Record, as health correspondent, and a year with the then Scottish Executive (now the Scottish Government), where he was a special adviser to First Minister, Henry McLeish, and, briefly, his successor, Jack McConnell.

He was appointed editor of the Evening News from the deputy editorship of sister title, Scotland on Sunday.

The current deputy editor of the Evening News is Euan McGroary, appointed by Little just after he became editor.