20 Trinity Mirror staff face axe

Trinity Mirror is understood to be making up to 20 sales staff redundant as part of a restructure of the ad sales department.

The reorganisation of the sales department, which is staffed by about 180 people, is being undertaken by advertisement director Neil Hurman.

According to industry sources Hurman began outlining the new structure to staff on Monday, focusing on the display team where the redundancies are likely to take place. It is thought that more new positions are being created than those being dispensed with.

These will be open to internal candidates.

The review also covers the classified team and six regional offices including Manchester, Bristol and Leeds.

The move coincides with the departure of Dene Stuart, who has resigned as The Mirror’s sales director to go to Internet company Yava, as commercial director.

Yava plans to install Internet kiosks in pubs, clubs and leisure centres.

Hurman, a former Leagas Delaney media director, joined Trinity Mirror last month. His appointment threw into question the role of group ad director Mark Pritchett. At the time Pritchett was thought to have been offered a job elsewhere in the company, but it is unclear whether he has taken one.

News of Hurman’s appointment broke two weeks after the departure of former group managing director Roger Eastoe.