Chris Green quits Johnston Press

A divisional managing director at newspaper group Johnston Press has quit his position, it has been revealed.

The announcement that Chris Green - the publishing group's divisional managing director for the North - has stepped down from the post was made through an internal memo.

The note from chief operating officer Danny Cammiade to staff across the company indicated that a pssible reorganisation at the firm may have led to his departure.

In its financial results for the 26 weeks to July 3, the publisher posted a decline in total revenues - down 5.2% to £207.3 million.

However, it added the rate of fall in total advertising revenues on a like-for-like basis continued on a downward trend. Also compared with the first six months of 2009, circulation revenues were down 2.8%.

Chief executive John Fry explained: "In the first half the group achieved an operating profit before non-recurring items of £40.5 million up from £38.2 million in the prior year. This represents our first operating profit increase reported since 2006.

"As we move into the second half of the year, we have seen the improving trend in advertising revenues continue with total advertising in the first six weeks on a like for like basis only down 3.7%. Within this performance digital revenues grew by 9.7%."

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