Timothy Balding, director general for global affairs at the Paris-based World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), has departed from the organisation.
Balding spent years as WAN's chief executive prior to last year's merger with IFRA. Under his direction, WAN grew from a relatively small "club" of publishers into a global force, with membership rising from 23 to 122 countries.
He was known for his outstanding work in defending and promoting press freedom, as WAN-IFRA's president, Gavin O'Reilly, pointed out in a farewell tribute.
He praised Balding's "tireless and effective work" that "has benefitted the entire industry in innumerable ways."
Balding, who joined WAN in 1985, formerly worked as a journalist for several British papers, including the Oxford Mail. He was a political correspondent for the Press Association before moving to France in the early 1980s.
On a personal note, I found Balding to be an extremely thoughtful debater - our last clash was on CNN, I think - and a charming dining companion.
He was a fine public speaker, a good organiser and a champion of press freedom. I wish him well in whatever he does next.
Source: Editors' weblog
