Unwins' new recruit Mark Croucher, who joined from Butler and Tanner in August as deputy managing director, will eventually step up to take Andrew's position. But chief executive Mike Milton will fill the role temporarily.

"Most of the customers know me and I'm probably the continuity they're looking for at the moment. In three months' time, Mark will take over," Milton said.

Andrew is on gardening leave until February but Milton thought it unlikely he would return to print. "At the age he's at [61], he's probably got other things he wants to go and do."

It had always been Milton's plan that Croucher would take over at Unwins when Andrew retired, though he admitted this had happened sooner than planned. "The recruitment of Mark was with Mike's agreement," he said.

Milton dismissed industry rumour that Unwins was exiting the mono market. "It's 2m of our 10m turnover so it's a very important part of our business," he said.

Story by Lauretta Roberts