MUMBAI: Reuters Group PLC, the news and financial data provider, has appointed former editor-in-chief of MSNBC.com Dean Wright as digital media business head. He will be based out of New York.

Wright will lead the editorial operations and programming for the company's consumer-facing media services, including the online, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Wright will be joining as senior vice president and managing editor for consumer services.

"Dean's strong journalistic background and proven record of building and retaining a major online audience make him the ideal person to run our global operation. He will play a key role in bringing the power of Reuters' renowned news and information directly to consumers across the globe," said Reuters' global managing editor David Schlesinger.

Wright will report to Schlesinger and work closely with Media president Chris Ahearn, Reuters said in an official release.

Wright has over 30 years experience in journalism and was a senior director at America Online, where he helped manage the integration of programming between AOL and the Time Inc. Web sites, before joining MSNBC.com.