Lucy Edwards said it was time to explore other career options after 13 years with the company.

The move, described as “amicable”, means Danny Clarke, the person she shared her leadership role with for less than a year, will become sole managing director. Other members of the executive team will take on more responsibility.

Edwards said: “I have really enjoyed my time at Howard Hunt. I wish them every success in the future but after 13 years, I feel as if it is the right time for me to explore other career opportunities.”

Clarke said the company was sad to see her go.

“We've been a very close team and I wish her every success. It's all very amicable. 

“She goes at the end of March and is still working in the business completing a number of key projects."

Chief executive of the £80m-turnover direct mail services provider Luke Pigott said everybody at Howard Hunt wished Edwards the best in her future endeavours.

“Lucy has made tremendous contributions to Howard Hunt, and our wider group companies, over the past 13 years,” he said.

Prior to April 2015, Edwards was deputy managing director to Pigott, then managing director, a role she held for nine years. Before that she was managing director at Howard Hunt Group company ORM.

Pigott was promoted to chief executive role last April, and Edwards and Clarke assumed joint managing director responsibilities.

Edwards has responsibility for manufacturing, technology, HR, finance and marketing and Clarke for sales and commercial and client services.

He joined in 2008, was promoted to the board in 2011 and as sales director secured £10m worth of new contracts across financial services, travel and retail during his tenure.

"Danny’s nine years at Howard Hunt and in-depth customer knowledge alongside a detailed understanding of operations means he is in the perfect position to continue to execute on the commercial opportunities at-hand,” Pigott said.

“I have full confidence that he will over-deliver on our ambitious growth targets.”

Howard Hunt is part of the Howard Hunt Group (HHG), which was established in 1990, initially as a lone direct mail provider. It has grown into a multichannel marketing services provider with offices in the UK, USA, Spain, Poland and South Africa, and clients across Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Australia.

The company won the PrintWeek Awards Cross-media Company of the Year title in 2013 and was a finalist in the Direct Mail Printer of the Year category in 2015's awards.