He will become managing director of "an independent company focused on improving the energy efficiency of printing processes using a Prinovis patent", the company said in a statement released today.

Krauss, who was appointed chief executive following the merger of Arvato, Gruner and Jahr, and Axel Springer, will now "support the management as an adviser".

He has been replaced by Arvato Services former managing director Thorsten Thiel.

Rolf Buch, chairman of the boards of directors of Prinovis and Arvato, thanked Krauss for his "important contribution" to the development of gravure printing at the company.

"He left his mark on the printing group, both from an entrepreneurial and a strategic point of view. I am glad that he will stay with us as an adviser and project developer," he said.

For more see next week's PrintWeek.