PrintWeek understands that Andrew Barker has resigned and will leave the £44m turnover print and publishing group this month.

He was unavailable for comment at the time of writing. Chief executive Joel Dickinson was on holiday and also unavailable.

Barker had worked at the group for more than 11 years.

Garnett Dickinson Print operations director Mark Bennett is said to be taking over Barker’s responsibilities.

Barker’s departure has been greeted with surprise in the trade, not least because he is married to Tiffany Barker (née Dickinson) the managing director of the publishing side of the family-owned group.

“This is a sudden and massive surprise,” said a source close to the situation.

Four months ago Carl Garnett (no relation), the managing director of Garnett Dickinson’s mailing business, left the company.

The group restructured this time last year with the sale of former subsidiary Acorn Web Offset to an MBO team lead by Nick Alexander, who was previously group chief executive.

Garnett Dickinson's businesses spans local newspaper publishing as well as web offset printing, mailing, design and digital printing, and a motoring company.