Co-CEO Bertram Stausberg has left the business, with fellow co-CEO Axel Hentrei taking sole charge of the €1.7bn (£1.5bn) turnover, 9,000-employee operation as of 1 October.

The unusual co-piloting arrangement had come into force at the beginning of the year, when Bertelsmann created Europe’s largest print group by bringing all its operations under one umbrella.

The Prinovis gravure factory in Liverpool is part of the group. 

“It’s a shame for Bertram, but it just hasn’t worked out,” said one industry associate.

Bertelsmann Printing Group said Stausberg, who previously helmed Be Printers, had left at his own request and “on the very best of mutual terms” to seek a new challenge.

Bertelsmann chairman and CEO Thomas Rabe praised him for being instrumental in the realignment of the group’s gravure operations and for disposing of non-core businesses, including the sale of its Spanish web and gravure operations to Walstead.

“I both respect and regret Bertram Stausberg’s decision to leave the Bertelsmann Printing Group, and cordially thank him for his huge contribution to the development of a new printing strategy for Bertelsmann,” Rabe said.   

Stausberg (pictured below) had spent 20 years working in businesses that went on to become part of the print group. He began his career as a management assistant at Gruner Druck in Itzehoe, Germany.

Hentrei is the former CEO of the enormous Mohn Media web offset business in Germany.  

Bertelsmann Printing Group's half-year results benefited from a string of new business wins for Prinovis Liverpool following the collapse of Polestar.