Interoute has poached Daly from the troubled Savvis subisidiary to act as business development manager for its European media division.

Lee Myall, director of Interoute's corporate and media services division, said: "Tim has a vast amount of experience client side within the print and publishing sector, so there's an immediate credibility factor and high-empathy factor with the customers."

Myall, who also joined Interoute from Wam!Net at the end of last year (printweek.com, 6 November 2003), added that Daly would be a high-profile addition to the company's nine-strong media services division.

Savvis UK and Europe managing director Richard Warley said: "Tim's done a very fine job here and throughout his career as an advocate for the industry and I certainly wish him success.

"In terms of customer support, Tim leaving will mean nothing, but it will certainly affect our channels of communication with the industry," Warley added.

Interoute, which announced that it was to move into print and publishing in February (printweek.com, 12 February 2004), launched the division last summer when it acquired Virtue Broadcasting and Virtue Media Services, whose clients included EMI, BMG Universal and News International.

Myall also revealed that Interoute has acquired central European telecoms company Cecom, expanding its presence into the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland and Romania.

Wam!Net came in for criticism last year over the poor quality of its service to major customers, including St Ives and Polestar, during the switchover process to the Savvis network. Myall, who had been Wam!Net's European sales director, left the company at the same time.

Prior to his appointment at Wam!Net, Daly worked at publishing house Emap where he oversaw the firm's digital workflow strategy.