Media giant Reuters has appointed Daragh Fagan as its new general counsel for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Fagan joins Reuters after 10 years at Italy's largest industrial company Eni, where he was the gas and oil giant's assistant general counsel for the Middle East, North America and the North Sea.

He replaces Claire Chapman, who left Reuters to head up the legal team at automotive retail and distribution company Inchcape in January after only two years at the news agency.

Fagan will be part of the company's 32-lawyer global legal team and will report to Reuters' global general counsel Rosemary Martin.

Principal legal counsel Kirsty Whitehead took over Chapman's role in the interim and will continue in the
position until Fagan starts in September.

While at Eni, Fagan was involved in the energy company's merger with London-based gas supplier Lasmo in 2001 and has advised on more than 70 oil and gas joint ventures worldwide.

Earlier this month, Reuters was the subject of an £8.8bn takeover bid from Canadian rival Thomson. If the merger is successful the combined company, which will be known as Thomson Reuters, will be the world's largest news and financial data company. Slaughter and May is leading a raft of international firms advising the media group on the takeover.

Reuters, which has staff in more than 90 countries, has an annual global legal spend of approximately £12m.