Prominent Serbian journalist and editor Veselin Simonovic died in Belgrade on Sunday, the Nova portal reported.

Simonovic was editor in chief of the Nova portal and CEO of the Nova daily newspaper.

The 63 year old Simonovic had a career spanning decades, starting with the Belgrade-based state-run daily Borba in the 1980s. He went on to the Vreme independent weekly and then to Blic daily as editor in chief for years.

Dragan Solak, founder and Chairman Advisory Boarda United Group said that Simonovic “was a great name in Serbian journalism, a courageous editor and journalist whose experience helped launch the Nova.rs portal which made its name outside Serbia in a short time… Simonovic was a fierce but just critic of social and political events in Serbia.”

Simonovic was a founder of the Nova portal in 2020 holding the position of CEO and editor in chief and CEO of the Nova daily newspaper when it was launched later.

He was chosen to speak about professional goals and ideals at the 100th anniversary of Borba daily.

Tributes to Veselin Simonovic have been made on social media by a number of public figures, including politicians and fellow journalists.