The Wall Street Journal has appointed Emma Tucker as its next chief editor, making her the first woman to occupy the prestigious job in the 133-year-old financial journal.

In place of Matt Murray, who has been in charge of the publication since 2018, Ms Tucker, the former editor of The Sunday Times in London, will now lead the WSJ newsroom.

Ms Tucker will resume her top editor duties at WSJ on February 1, 2023, and is expected to work with Mr Murray for a seamless handover until March 1, 2023.

According to News Corp, owners of The Journal, Ms Tucker significantly improved the Sunday Times’ online audience. The parent firm asserted that as of September 2022, there were 450,000 digital subscriptions, up from 320,000 in 2019.

“Emma is a brilliant, inspiring editor, with digital nous and the highest standards of integrity,” News Corp Chief Executive Robert Thomson said. “Her global vision and experience will be particularly important at a time of immense international opportunity for The Wall Street Journal.”

Mr Murray will then assume a new role and report to Mr Thomson.

“Matt is a superb journalist and leader who has overseen a peerless editorial team that fashioned success for The Journal during an era of extreme vulnerability for media companies and journalism,” Mr Thomson said in a statement.

“I’ve long been proud of the Journal’s essential, independent journalism, and feel special pride in all that our team has accomplished,” the outgoing top editor said in a statement. “The Journal and Dow Jones are poised to further extend their impact, reach and influence with Emma at the helm.”