Mills will work his last day at the Cambridge-based firm tomorrow (5 October) after five years’ service but will remain in the industry, where he will set up a specialist business consultancy.

Inca Digital’s deputy chief executive Akira Hayakawa has been appointed as interim chief executive. He will be supported by chief operating officer Matthew Negus as well as the company’s incumbent management team.

“John has been instrumental in turning Inca Digital into a world-class and internationally-respected inkjet business over the past five years,” said Hayakawa.

“We thank John for his outstanding contribution to the business and wish him every success in his future endeavours. We remain fully committed to all our customers right across the graphics, packaging and industrial markets as we prepare the company for the next phase in its growth.”

“It was always my intention to stay at Inca Digital for five years,” added Mills, who said his remit had been to turn the business into “a leading digital player in the graphics market” and to drive product innovation to put it in a commanding position to exploit the opportunities in sectors including the packaging and industrial markets.

“It has been five great years of growth and technology innovation,” he said.

“Led by the success of the Onset X series, we’ve grown to become one of the dominant players in the digital graphics market. With the launch of the Onset M last year and our single-pass machines currently in development, Inca is on course to deliver the next generation of transformational inkjet technologies.

“I believe I am leaving Inca Digital on a firm footing to take on the challenges of the future and I’m very proud of what we have achieved as a business during my time here.”

In the most recent financial year for which results are available, to 31 March 2017, sales at the company increased by 6.6% to £41.75m.