Not all the news about Fairfax Media is about redundancies, with the publisher recruiting former News Limited digital product chief Sigrid Kirk to a similar position with its metro media division.

She is returning to Fairfax from News and time with UK and News Zealand newspapers and a role in the early days of ninemsn, with Optus and Telstra.

Fairfax metro media chief executive Jack Matthews says Kirk will lead product developments in “all aspects” of the publisher’s transition to digital and recently announced move to a tabloid format for the ‘Age’ and ‘Sydney Morning Herald’.

"Physical newspapers are set to be a part of metro media for many years, and it is really important that our chief product officer have the skills needed to achieve great results in our newspaper redesign project," he says.

She takes up the appointment in August.