Griffiths is understood to be tying up various legal issues, and is intending to remain in the paper trade.

His departure from Premier Paper, part of the Map Merchant Group, comes less than two years after his appointment, when he replaced David Rogan (PrintWeek 15 February 2002).

At the time Map Merchant Group president Karl-Johan Lindborg said Griffiths was the best person to steer Premier Paper through a challenging period and guide the company back to profitability.

Lindborg thanked Griffiths for his involvement in leading Premier through what he termed as a difficult period.

Prior to his appointment at Premier, Griffiths was out of the industry for a short time as managing director of a division of Unipart.

He was formerly chief executive of Arjo Wiggins from 1998 to April 2000, during which time he bought together Arjo UK Merchants and Wiggins Teape to create Antalis.

The role of managing director will be carried out on an interim basis by Map vice-president for central west and south Europe, Johan de Boer.

De Boer was formerly managing director of MoDoVanGelder, one of Maps paper merchants in the Netherlands.

He was appointed to his current position as vice-president in January 2002, and is being replaced in that role by MoDoVanGelder sales and marketing director, Martin van den Westen.

by Andy Scott