Two senior newspaper executives have left their jobs in a wide-ranging shake-up at regional publisher Archant.

The media group has reduced its current nine publishing divisions to three in what it says is a move designed to streamline the business and deliver faster growth.

Regional divisions Archant Norfolk, Archant Suffolk and Archant Herts and Cambs are to be combined into a single business unit to called Archant Anglia.

The new super-division will be headed by Johnny Hustler, previously in charge of Archant Lifestyle which included the Archant Life magazine titles.

Both Stephan Phillips, previously MD of Archant Norfolk, and Stuart McCreery, who held the same role at Archant Suffolk and Archant Herts and Cambs, are leaving the company.

A company spokesman said Mr Phillips had decided to take early retirement and Mr McCreery had decided to pursue other business interests.

Meanwhile the group’s London newspaper and magazine businesses will be combined into a single Archant London entity headed by Enzo Testa, currently leader of the London newspaper business.

A third super-division, to be called Archant Lifestyle and spanning the existing Archant Life, Archant Specialist, Archant Dialogue, Archant South West and Archant KOS Media businesses will be headed by Miller Hogg.

Chief executive Adrian Jeakings said: “We are living through a time of unprecedented change and increasing competition in the media industry.

“Our future growth depends on our ability to respond rapidly and cost-effectively to our customers’ evolving needs. These structural changes will help us do this better and faster.”