The firms head office will also move from Wakefield to Kent, resulting in several job losses.

Mike Gee, managing director of Independent Papers parent firm, Denmaur Paper, said Mitchell had decided to leave at the end of his initial year-long appointment.

Mitchell joined Independent almost a year ago after the departure of Jill Mannix from the group (PrintWeek, 18 October 2002).

Gee, who now becomes managing director of Independent Paper, said moving the Wakefield office to Denmaurs Sittingbourne site would give Independent a better cost base and enable it to return to profitability more quickly.