After the abortive appointment of industry outsider Andrew Jones, who resigned last month after just eight weeks in the job, the group is searching for a credible replacement who will meet with the approval of owner Investcorp and key clients.

An informed source said Southernprint managing director Stephen Clark, who was formerly at Watmoughs and was managing director of Polestar's gravure business until 2000, has been approached about the role. "He's certainly got the qualifications, and they need someone who can just slot into the job," he said.

Polestar project director Mike Young refused to comment on the identity of any potential candidate, while Clark told PrintWeek: "No, I have not been offered this job. I am sure there are plenty of Germans who would be highly suitable for the role." 

Clark's name isn't the only one in the frame. Polestar chief executive Barry Hibbert is known to be a fan of Rob North, who left Polestar in 1999 and subsequently worked for Hibbert when he ran dotcom httprint. North led an MBO of the print management side of the httprint business last autumn. 

And one ex-Polestar executive said the group may try to persuade Quebecor World UK managing director Andrew Parker to switch camps. Quebecor's European technical director Alan Fraser returned to Polestar in May and is currently running the problematic Purnell plant, favourite to be the first casualty of the rationalisation that will ensue once Sheffield is up and running.

Elsewhere, former Purnell operations director Tony Kington is now free following the completion of his gardening leave after leaving BASF in the summer.

Story by Jo Francis