Toms was formerly operations director at the Poole-based printer and has been with the business for 14 years. He replaces Charles Jarrold who resigned in August, a month after the company was acquired by Wyndeham Press Group owner Walstead Investments.

Barnett will join Bicester-based BGP next year in an equivalent role. Prior to joining Southernprint in 2006, he was customer services director at St Ives Caerphilly.

BGP has already boosted its sales team this year by recruiting two salesmen from Southernprint: Adrian Clark and Peter Helfrich; while the firm's latest sales recruit Ross Borton was also at Southernprint prior to joining Prinovis.