Steve Auckland, CEO of Local World, has announced his surprise resignation to the board.
In a statement released by Local World on Friday, the regional publisher said that now the executive team has been “significantly strengthened”, Aukland has decided this is a “good time for him to take this step as the business is in good shape.”
However, some media commentators suggest a personality clash with Local World’s chairman, David Montgomery, is to blame.
Writing in his Guardian blog, Roy Greenslade said: “anyone who knows both Auckland and Montgomery would not be surprised that their relationship would eventually fracture. They are very different characters with different approaches as to how to run a business.
“It is clearly a clash of personalities. Auckland is straightforward. Montgomery is much more political and manipulative. Eventually, Monty’s style was bound to upset Auckland and I am sure that’s why he decided to walk.”
Aukland was previously Group CEO of DMGT’s Northcliffe Media until it was sold to Local World in January this year and prior to this, CEO of Metro. The Board of Local World has now asked David Montgomery to take the role of CEO with immediate effect.
To facilitate this move Andrew Wilson, of Artefact Partners, one of Local World’s shareholders, has been appointed interim non-executive chairman.
In an official statement, Auckland said: “Thanks to everyone who has supported me over the last two and a half years. It’s been an amazing time; I just can’t believe it’s gone so quickly. I now leave a business with a great vision and an even more talented team of leaders to deliver it.
“I always said that people are the most valuable resource to any business. We’ve been able to assemble a highly skilled, experienced and motivated team who have outperformed the local media business making Local World even more desirable to investors and employees. It’s been an honour and a pleasure to work with them.
“With David assembling a new central management team, it’s a great time for me to move on.”
