Guardian Australia names UK editor David Munk as permanent boss after Taylor exit

David Munk is now officially the editor of Guardian Australia, months after he was flown in from the UK to fill the gap left by Lenore Taylor's sudden resignation in February.

The British-born journalist, who spent five years as deputy editor of the Australian edition under Taylor, was given the top job permanently on Monday. Munk had been acting in the role since Taylor left after nearly a decade as editor.

Taylor was the longest-serving editor in the country when she resigned. Her departure came after months of tension with local managing director Rebecca Costello, according to sources. The Guardian never publicly detailed the reasons.

Munk previously worked as deputy foreign editor at the Guardian in the UK and head of world news at the UK Daily and Sunday Telegraph. He said he was "delighted" with the appointment.

"From small beginnings, the Guardian is now such an important part of Australian society as well as its fast-changing media landscape," Munk said in a statement.

"Thanks to three brilliant previous editors we have built something special across the land and I will make it my mission to ensure we continue to give our readers, viewers and listeners the courageous, groundbreaking – and crucially independent – journalism they have come to expect from our amazing staff."

Guardian News and Media editor-in-chief Katherine Viner said Munk brought "great verve, creativity, openness and commitment to his work."

Taylor backed her successor, saying: "He was a great deputy and I think he'll be a great editor."

Munk now leads a newsroom that has grown significantly since the Guardian launched in Australia in 2013. The outlet has built a loyal readership with its progressive stance and investigative reporting, but it's also faced financial pressures like the rest of the industry.

His formal appointment marks a new chapter for the publication, which has gone through a rocky period since Taylor's exit. Staff have been waiting for clarity on leadership since February.