Regional publisher Johnston Press has announced the resignation of its chief operating officer, Danny Cammiade.
Danny, an executive director of the Company since 2005 and a long serving member of the senior management team, will leave the company on 31 March 2013.
It follows what JP is calling an “agreed transition period” following the appointment of Ashley Highfield as chief executive in November 2011.
The two men were in competition for the chief executive’s role after the departure of John Fry last year, but although Danny lost out in the race the company was keen for him to stay on to help oversee the transition to new leadership.
Danny’s forthcoming departure has triggered a restructure that will see the managing directors of JP’s regional publishing units now reporting to group commercial director Neil Jones.
The rest of Danny’s previous direct reports will now answer directly to Ashley.
Said Ashley: “I am very grateful for Danny’s support during my first year at Johnston Press where his knowledge and understanding of local communities, and insight into publishing issues have been invaluable.
“I know from my time in the company how well regarded he is both internally and in the industry as a whole and wish him well for the future.”
Johnston Press chairman Ian Russell added: “Danny has been an integral part of the executive management team and a main board director for many years and has made an immense contribution to the company.
“The Board is grateful for his commitment and contribution to the business. We wish him well for the future.”
Danny originally came into Johnston Press by way of its purchase of Sussex-based Beckett Newspapers where he started his career on the advertising sales team in 1978.
He rose to become marketing director for West Sussex and, following the company’s sale to JP, was appointed managing director of the West Sussex County Times in 1994.
In 1996 he was given the job as managing director of Johnston Newspapers North Midlands division, which included the Derbyshire Times, before moving to Portsmouth in 1999 as divisional managing director of the newly created South Division following the acquisition of Portsmouth & Sunderland Newspapers.
He was appointed director of operations in November 2001 before joining the company’s main board as an executive director in 2005.
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Oh dear. What goes around comes around…..
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Onlooker, that is both unkind and unnecessary.
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Roll up, roll up: JP trolls are combing their green hair in readiness for a knees up at DC’s expense.
The trolls think DC’s head’s gone, and has been for some time. They think he has no idea how to run a business.
These are the same trolls that would open up a sweet shop and give away bon bons for free all day long to their hairy-footed friends, until they realised they’d quite literally lost their mojos – and indeed their livelihoods!
All kind wishes, DC.
Good luck.
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There are many in JP who won’t lose too much sleep over this.
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Given all that JP has gone through over the tenure of Tim Bowdler, John Fry and now Mr Highfiled the one constant throughout that period was DC. A true newspaper man, I’m sure his severace package will soften the blow.
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I thought he was still playing for Derby County.
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When I was editor of the Londonderry Sentinel, he asked what I needed to increase circulation. I said: “More staff.” It was the wrong answer!
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Damn, does this mean the end of his blog?
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Perhaps local MD’s will now make their own publishing decisions! Under DC all publishing creativity was lost and literally nothing happened unless approved by him. If it was not in the budget, agreed 12 months earlier, then it did not happen.
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Whatever his attributes, at least managers will be allowed to manage now, talent will flourish and the odd decision might even be allowed to be made locally. The biggest failing of Johnston Press over the last few years has been the stifling of creativity in a desperate attempt to control absolutely everything from the centre. It has been control freakery gone mad. And look where it has got them ?
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There is no-one left to sack presumably?
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Why wasn’t his role just outsourced?
That’s how they solve all there problems…
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