King, who helped complete the disposal of Cash Systems, will now pursue new opportunities.

He will be replaced by Simon Webb – a chartered accountant and former deputy chief financial officer at food equipment manufacturer Enodis.

Webb, 44, has been appointed group finance director at the Hampshire-based currency printer from 2 February 2009. He will become an executive director on 1 April 2009.  

He has held senior finance roles at British American Tobacco and was vice president of finance EMEA for Paxar Europe, an encryption technology company.