Steve Auckland will leave the company at the end of April.
Manish Malhotra, currently CFO of the Group, will become Group MD on an interim basis, reporting to the Chairman, Justin Byam Shaw.
ESI Media owner Evgeny Lebedev said: “ESI Media has undergone some substantial changes in the last 18 months, including the sale of the i newspaper and the move of the Independent and Independent on Sunday titles to a digital-only format. Steve has made an enormous contribution by steering the Group through these changes and into a strong position for the future. I am very grateful to him and wish him every success. We have an outstanding management team in place and we will now be taking some time to review our best management structure for the future.”
Steve Auckland said: “‘I've enjoyed my brief but hectic stint at ESI Media. Delivering record profits at the Standard last year, and dramatically reducing the losses on the Independent and London Live to get the businesses into better shape will be one of the highlights of my career. With the successful sale of i to Johnston Press, including a long-term syndication agreement, it’s a fitting time for me to move on. I'm leaving the business on a sounder financial footing. There’s still stacks of potential here and I wish all the staff and management my best wishes for the next chapter in their development of this great company.”
