Holland, 56, has taken early retirement after a  40-year print career that involved senior roles across most print sectors and at some of the industry's high-profile businesses including the sale of Varnicoat to Watmoughs and Andover Press to St Ives when he was at McCorquodale.

He began his career at Bowater, where he met John Holloran and forged what would become a long working relationship with the man who rose to become BPC chief executive.

Holloran, along with current Polestar chief Barry Hibbert, was among those who paid tribute to Holland.

Holland said his time in print had been "fascinating and great fun, and I plan to have a lot more".

Story by Jo Francis