Dexter Smith, the Editor of The Royal Gazette, will step down in January after a decade leading the newspaper.

Mr Smith, the newspaper’s first Black editor, accepted early retirement from the role. He turns 65 in 2026.

Mr Smith has had a distinguished career in newspapers, beginning as a teenager in The Royal Gazette’s pressroom and distribution team before becoming a sports reporter and later sports editor of the Gazette and the Mid-Ocean News.

He later joined The Times in London where he worked in an award-winning sports department for 13 years before returning to Bermuda as Head of Sport, Acting News Editor and, since 2015, as Editor.

“Anyone who has worked with Dexter can attest to his dedication and his willingness to go the extra mile, as well as his meticulous approach to editorial excellence,” said Jonathan Howes, chief executive officer of The Royal Gazette’s parent company, Bermuda Press (Holdings) Ltd.

“We owe him a debt of gratitude for the many years he has given to the Gazette and Bermuda media.”

Mr Smith is also a well-known sportsman, having represented Bermuda in cricket and table tennis, along with playing for St George’s Cricket Club in Cup Match. He is also a leading cricket umpire.

"It has been a privilege and an honour to serve the people of Bermuda for the best part of five decades," said Mr Smith, who plans to retire to London, England, and Uganda.

"The media space is the pulse of any functioning democracy, and I have every confidence the Gazette will continue to set the pace as the most trusted source of journalism in Bermuda while holding the powerful to account."

An event to mark Mr Smith’s retirement will take place in the new year.

Following Mr Smith’s retirement, Bill Zuill will be returning as Editor of The Royal Gazette, having previously served in that role from 1998 to 2012. More recently, he was the newspaper’s Head of Digital from 2021 to 2023.