McGurk, who was at The Scotsman for 10 years, will leave on June 26. His departure is likely to cause further disruption at the paper, which has seen a string of staff leave since the Barclay brothers sold the paper to Johnston Press for 拢160m in December.
The hiring of McGurk by the Telegraph is the third time the company has taken a member of Scotsman Publication's senior-level editorial staff in recent times, as Andrew Neil, publisher at Telegraph owner Press Holdings Group, raids his former staff.
McGurk's journey south follows that of Iain Martin, another former editor of The Scotsman who is now assistant editor at the Sunday Telegraph, and Fraser Nelson, formerly The Scotsman's political editor, who now holds the same position at The Spectator.
Michael Johnston, managing director of Scotsman Publications, said he "regretted" the fact that McGurk was leaving but said he left with the company's best wishes.
Prior to joining The Scotsman, McGurk edited sister titles the Edinburgh Evening News from 1995 to 1997 and Scotland on Sunday from 1997 to 2001, which were part of the Barclays' 拢160m sale to Johnston.
McGurk said: "I would like to thank a very talented editorial staff for supporting my editorship. I wish them and the Scotsman the best of success for the future."
The Telegraph declined to comment on the departure of Sear.
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