Things are hotting up for the Wall Street Journal’s European plans – managing editor Robert Thomson has moved LA bureau chief of four years Bruce Orwall to the role of London bureau chief, according to a memo leaked to Gawker, replacing Emily Nelson who moves back to New York. Welcoming Orwall to the role, Thomson said: “There is no doubt that London will be an increasingly important centre for the Journal and crucial to our broader European expansion, both in print and on the web.” The reshuffle comes one week after The Guardian’s head of editorial development Neil McIntosh was appointed editor of WSJ.com’s European edition. Combine the expanding WSJ with the Dow Jones (NYSE: NWS) newswires division based in the UK and it seems papers like the FT could have some increased competition on their hands in the weeks and months ahead.

• Industry Moves: Guardian’s McIntosh Joins WSJ.Com As Europe Editor