Lawrence will take up the new role of general manager of the Guardian Print Centre London next month this is the new East London print site that has been set up in partnership with Newsfax.

He is on gardening leave prior to taking up his new role and was unavailable for comment.

At West Ferry operations manager Terry Ellis has been promoted to production director following Lawrence's departure.

The Guardian is currently a West Ferry client but will move production out of the Docklands print plant once its 50m spend on new colour presses is complete, allowing it to switch from broadsheet to Berliner format. Two MAN Roland Colormans will be installed at the new facility, with a third going in at Trafford Park Printers in Manchester.

Joe Clark, Guardian Newspapers' director of printing, distribution and circulation, said: "Brett is one of the most experienced and respected operators in the industry, with an impressive track record of success and innovation. He will be a tremendous asset to GNL as general manager of the new Guardian Print Centre, as we continue our preparations for the launch of the Guardian and Observer in the new Berliner format."

The official launch date for the new format originally slated for 2006 remains under wraps, although it is understood that The Guardian is doing everything possible to bring it forward in the face of sliding circulation figures. Its sales fell 2.5% to 367,033 in March.

The future format of The Guardian's G2 weekday supplement is also the subject of considerable industry debate. G2 is currently tabloid and runs to hefty paginations on Wednesdays in particular.

Story by Jo Francis