He was handed the role of creating a group-wide blueprint for customer service and planning at the end of last year, but Polestar's ongoing consolidation has seen this position disappear.

"As we go to fewer, bigger sites we need less senior people around," said chief executive Barry Hibbert. "Alan's done a great job for us, but we decided by mutual agreement that it was time for him to do something different."

Group sales and marketing director John Ashfield praised Outlaw's "enormous contribution" to the group. "He is a true professional, with a breadth of knowledge that is second to none... we wish him well for the future."

Outlaw was instrumental in growing the NatMags account at Polestar, which the publisher renewed last April in a seven-year deal.

NatMags manufacturing director Alice Beattie described the news of his departure as "devastating".

"Alan is quite unique because he understands the technical processes and he understands customers. He was so pro-active and always had a solution. We will miss him terribly," she said.

Outlaw, who began his print career aged 16 at Watmoughs as a letterpress apprentice, said he had been "fortunate to work with some great people and forge some great relationships with my clients". He will leave the group next month but is expected to remain in the industry, and is understood to have already received a number of offers.