A senior editorial executive with regional newspaper publisher Archant is to leave the company this week.

Paul Richardson, left, editorial director of Archant Herts & Cambs, is bowing out after 17 years with the company which has seen him take on a number of senior roles.

A former editor of the Hunts Post, he has also been managing editor and publisher of Archant’s Cambridgeshire titles in recent years.

Paul informed staff of the decision yesterday and he will leave at the end of this week.

Archant Anglia managing director, Johnny Hustler, said: “It is with sadness that I have to announce that Paul Richardson is leaving Archant after a distinguished career, during which time he has been in the vanguard of many new initiatives and developments.

“Most recently he was pivotal in the successful introduction of our new content management system to the Archant Herts & Cambs business.

“On behalf of all Paul’s colleagues at Archant I would like to thank him for his contribution and wish him very good luck for the future. Paul has been a good friend to all and we shall miss him.”

All the newspaper editors at Archant Herts & Cambs will now report directly to commercial director Amanda Davison-Young who has publishing responsibility for all the brands in the division’s portfolio.

Last year Paul oversaw the launch of a weekly title in Cambridge which led to a circulation war with Iliffe News and Media which launched a rival title in the city on the same day.

Archant’s part-paid for part-free Cambridge First was in direct competition with Iliffe News and Media’s ‘metro style’ free newspaper called Cambridge Now.

Cambridge First is still going but Cambridge Now has since merged with the Cambridge News and Crier to become the Cambridge News and Crier Now.