Ctrlp.com chief executive Jim Kachenmeister has left the firm after only five months in the job.
Chairman Warren Tayler described the split as "totally amicable", and said Kachenmeister had been discussing his departure for the past three or four weeks. "He got us our IPO and signed up ImageX," he added.
"I think from Jims point of view the Internet is quite small play compared to his corporate background," said Tayler. "I reckon he is being headhunted for larger things."
"I am disappointed. I would like us to have been able to move faster but you cant conquer the world overnight. Building a big business takes time. Hes a person who has run a multinational and its a different scale."
Tayler said he would work at ctrlp.com for "a couple more days per week" while Kachenmeisters replacement was being sought. He said the departure would have no effect on ctrlp.coms future plans, adding: "We have a very strong team."
Kachenmeister joined ctrlp.com in February (PrintWeek, 18 February). He was previously managing director and senior vice president of Danka UK.
Last week ctrlp.com signed an alliance with US-based ImageX.com and took an 80% stake in fellow UK print buying site Printbynet.com (PrintWeek, 14 July).
Story by Gordon Carson