Foakes had been with the publisher for just under 10 years. He oversaw the production function as a whole, and his own specific responsibilities included purchasing paper for Emap worldwide and print buying for its French wing. He was also in charge of production for Emap America before that was sold last year.

"David has been in that role for just under 10 years and has done a great job for Emap," said group finance director Gary Hughes. "The sale of our American operations means the company has changed and David wants to go on to the next phase of his career. He is leaving with extremely good grace and our best wishes."

Foakes was on a skiing holiday this week and unavailable for comment.

There has been speculation that he may join former Emap chief Kevin Hand at Hachette Filipacchi in France.

Foakes departure will create a high-level production vacancy if Emap makes a direct replacement. The group publishes almost 200 titles in the UK alone.

"We are looking at how we are organised from the whole print, pre-press and paper function and whether we can accommodate Davids role in our existing structure," Hughes added.

* Last weeks ABC figures saw Emap register the highest year-on-year increase for any newsstand title, with celebrity weekly Heat recording a 106% leap to 355,304 copies. The title is printed at St Ives Peterborough. Music weekly Kerrang!, currently printed at St Ives Gillingham, jumped 63.5% to 76,841. The news was less rosy at FHM, printed at Cooper Clegg, which saw sales slip 20.4% to 570,719.

Story by Jo Francis