He will replace Vic Marland, who has left Woodford on amicable terms to return to the packaging industry as general manager at Smurfit Kappa’s Chelmsford corrugated packaging facility.

Woodford chairman Simon Fox said: "Michael has a strong background running web offset plants for Polestar, St Ives and Wyndeham. He also has experience of running sales teams and so he is an excellent fit for what we want to achieve at Woodford."

Tame is set to join the Witham-based web offset printer next month, after the expiration of his contract with Wyndeham. He left Wyndeham last year after the Peterborough workforce rejected restructuring proposals.

£13.5m turnover Woodford employs around 70 staff, and runs a 48pp KBA Compacta and two 16pp Goss G14s. The firm recently boosted its bindery capabilities by adding a Kolbus perfect binding line to its setup, which includes two Muller Martini saddlestitchers.