MSN Cars' Ian Dickson and Steve Walker to leave

Microsoft

MSN Cars' journalists Ian Dickson (above left) and Steve Walker (right) are to leave the team at the end of 2013.

The pair, who produce much of the content you read here day-to-day, have notched up an impressive 10 and a half years' combined service between them.

Senior editor Ian Dickson joined MSN Cars in September 2006, while content editor Steve Walker arrived in September 2010. Both were hired under the watch of former MSN Cars boss Tom Evans, now MSN UK head of channels.

Ian Dickson in action

"They have both done a fabulous job and have been responsible for the day-to-day running of MSN Cars for a long time," said Evans. "They have produced some memorable stories in their time here and presided over a website going from strength to strength. I am grateful for their hard work and also proud they are both going on to excellent roles elsewhere."

Dickson is heading to the world of customer publishing, where he will edit Volvo’s global content across many platforms.

Walker, meanwhile, has been snaffled by Auto Express magazine, which has poached him to edit its website.

"Ian and Steve have served MSN Cars incredibly well over the past decade and we wish them well in their new ventures," said MSN Cars' managing editor Tim Pollard.

"We are the biggest motoring editorial website in the UK and we've had a great team delivering the best stories in the business for the large MSN Cars audience."

Steve Walker in 911 mode

Dickson and Walker have picked up a string of plaudits over the years, culminating in Website of the Year in 2009 awarded by Headlineauto.

They leave MSN Cars in rude health. It was the largest editorial automotive website in the UK in October 2013, according to independent web ratings agency Comscore, when 888,000 Brits visited the site.

Microsoft, which publishes MSN, is recruiting two motoring journalists to replace Dickson and Walker. An announcement is expected early in 2014.

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