Metro Ireland has appointed Paul Crosbie, the current chief executive of The Irish Post, as its new managing director.

Mr Crosbie, who was previously managing director of magazine publishers Mac Communications and commercial director of RTÉ’s publishing division, will take up the position in January.

Mr Crosbie said the free newspaper market was developing in interesting ways. The company behind the Metro newspaper in Ireland is a joint venture company with Associated Newspapers and The Irish Times, each holding a 45 per cent stake. The remaining 10 per cent is owned by Metro International.