Prontaprint managing director Alan Barnett is to leave the company and Adare Group with effect from 31 December.


Barnett said his departure was by mutual consent and he had no immediate plans for the future.


I have enjoyed my time in the franchise and within the group immensely, and will take the Christmas period to consider my future, he added.


Barnett would not be drawn on whether he would stay in the industry. He had been with Prontaprint for two-and-a-half years, and moved there from fellow Adare subsidiary Label Converters.


He was unwilling to comment on which side he took during the protracted Adare Group takeover battle that took place earlier this year.


Barnett took over from Kevin Potts in mid-1998 (PrintWeek, 5 June 1998). Potts had only been with the firm for six months.


Finance director Gary Sutton has been promoted to managing director. Sutton was a senior manager of Ernst & Youngs Entrepreneurial Services division for nine years before joining Prontaprint three years ago.


He said his aim was to continue to provide added-value services to the Prontaprint network.


The management team is committed to delivering a high level of support to help our franchisees achieve profitable growth, he added.


Together with the senior management team, Sutton will steer the company on the second half of its three-year business strategy.


Story by Andy Scott