Carlisle-based independent publisher the CN Group has announced that its chief executive Robin Burgess is to step down in January.

Robin, who has headed the family-owned business since the early 1980s, will retire on his 65th birthday on 31 January 2016.

Thereafter he will move to the role of non-executive chairman of the group, succeeding Lord Inglewood who has announced his own intention to step down.

The group. whose titles include the News & Star, Carlisle, and North West Evening Mail, is to employ a form of headhunters to find a new chief executive to succeed Robin.

Robin has spent 40 years with the CN Group and has been chief executive since 1985. He is the fourth generation of his family to be involved in running the business.

The announcement of his retirement was made today in a statement by Lord Inglewood.

Lord Inglewood added:  “Following Robin’s retirement, I have decided to stand down as non-executive chairman at our AGM in May 2016. The directors have unanimously agreed Robin should succeed me as non-executive chairman.

“Between his retirement and my standing down, Robin will support me as deputy chairman. Further, it has been agreed that I will remain on the Board to help ensure stability whilst both positions change”.

The group is to celebrate its 200th anniversary this year, its first newspaper The Carlisle Patriot having first appeared on June 3, 1815.

Said Robin:  “I have always said that I would retire at 65, and to be able to do that after the 200th anniversary celebrations is very important to me.

“I’ve seen a lot of change for the good over those years.  We have become more and more focused on our readers and customers, and there have been massive technological changes.

The group’s board has appointed head hunters Saxton Bampfylde to assist in appointing Robin’s successor. Applications will be invited both internally and externally and the process will begin shortly.