A newspaper advertising boss has left his role after two years’ commuting to East Anglia from another part of the country.
James Gurney joined Archant Suffolk as commercial director two years ago and later added the publisher’s Norfolk titles to his brief.
However he has now stepped down from the role after commuting to the region for two years from his home in the East Midlands.
He had been unable to sell his family’s Derbyshire home and has now opted to return to the area.
Archant Anglia managing director Johnny Hustler said: “James joined us two years ago, initially in Ipswich, and was promoted to also take responsibility for sales in Norfolk, Archant’s largest business.
“But he could not sell his house in Derbyshire and has been commuting back home for almost two years. It has been difficult for him and his wife and ultimately James has chosen to be back with his family.”
James’s departure was announced to staff on the day some disappointing circulation figures for Archant Suffolk were announced.
The East Anglian Daily Times saw its circulation slump by 21.2pc year-on-year in the period from January to June, while the Ipswich Star was down 18.2pc.
However company insiders have stressed that the two issues are not linked and that James’s reasons for leaving are purely personal.
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the housing market blamed ,original at least
the norfolk daily sales figures are just as bad, as was reported here last week,EDP down 11.3% and the evening paper down 17% record lows for these two once thriving titles,now heading south at an alarming rate,quality content a thing of the past
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Diifcult to swallow this concept (despite the clumsy spin) that massive circulation declines and this departure are un-connected… role becomes untenable with advertiser-value seriosuly diminished. Norwich Evening News down 17.8% and EADT down 21.2% are hard to sell!
Archant need to do some sould-searching – these declines are all about weakness at Editor level not commercial performance – the business looks strategy-less, rudderless and moribund.. something the board needs to resolve quickly. Time for heads to roll?
Add to that the elephant in the room – a dispute with HMRC – and all looks bleak at Archant!
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no surprise he has gone!!
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