In a statement published at lunchtime, the company said A & N Media will continue to deliver all its consumer newspaper and digital brands through Associated Newspapers Ltd and Northcliffe Media Ltd, while realising the efficiencies that this combination brings about.

Kevin Beatty, currently group managing director of Associated Newspapers, will become CEO of A&N Media in addition to his current role. Michael Pelosi will remain managing director of Northcliffe Media.

It is understood that today's announcement represesents the formalisation of an ongoing process under which a number of "back office" functions are being centralised across Associated and Northcliffe. Further such efficiencies are anticipated.

The gradual integration of Associated and Northcliffe dates back to March 2006 when it was first announced that the two companies would merge and that Mr Pelosi would report to Mr Beatty.

On that occasion, DMGT said it wanted to take advantage of the combined size and scale of the two companies to create and operate shared support service centres.

Today's announcement comes two months after the departure of Andy Hart, boss of Associated's online arm, Associated Northcliffe Digital.

At the time, a statement from Associated said the company would be making some organisational changes, as a result of which Andy and the company had mutually agreed to part company. However it is understood that those planned organisational changes are not related to today's announcement.

In a separate announcement, DMGT subsidiary Harmsworth Printing Ltd has announced that its deputy managing director Ifor Pedley is to assume group responsibility for sales and marketing.

Harmsworth Printing Ltd has also launched a new website this week, designed to reflect its increasingly strong share of the contract print market.

Said Ifor: "We have always had a steady number of enquiries via the internet. It is still one of the first ports of call for anyone looking for a service and contract print is no different. Over and above that, it is really a vehicle for people to contact us and if they need more in depth information, we can speak to them personally."

The new site can be found on www.harmsworthprinting.co.uk