Holland, the former Polestar group business development director, was appointed by chairman John Madjeski last month following the Colchester plant's loss of the BT Phone Book contract to Spanish printer Einsa.

Previous directors of the group said the loss of the 20m-directories-a-year deal would force the closure of the plant. But last week, group managing director John Cooling, finance director Nick Newland and Simon Hunt, managing director of sheetfed arm Stones the Printers, all left.

Holland subsequently announced his intention to reverse the decision to close Colchester. "[It] has world-class resources and will remain open for business. We will be looking aggressively for future growth opportunities and reject consolidation as the appropriate strategy for any of our businesses," he said.

"While we are taking steps to reduce costs on all fronts we do not intend to retrench as a knee jerk reaction to the move of BT Phone Books to Spain" he added.

Holland retired from Polestar in 2004 and established advisory service Printing Industry Expert Solutions with former Chromoworks director Peter Clark, who is assisting Holland at Goodhead.

Ron England, formerly managing director of Benhamgoodheadprint (which comprises the web plants in Colchester and Bicester) has been appointed as managing director (operations), while David Hillman has been appointed director of finance. A new group sales director is being sought. All positions cover the group's three plants.