Ex-commercial chief Woolfenden threatens Express with legal action

Express Newspapers is facing a legal battle with its former commercial director Paul Woolfenden, who is threatening to sue the company over his severance pay.

Woolfenden says has not received a penny from the group since he left in February and the case is now in the hands of his lawyers.

It is understood that Woolfenden has so far received two offers from Express owners Northern & Shell, but has deemed both unacceptable.

Other executives are also thought to be having trouble negotiating severance payments.

A source says: “There may be a legal battle. Woolfenden’s very unhappy with the present situation.

“If he doesn’t get the package he wants, he may have to fight them through the courts”.

Woolfenden and Express Newspapers both declined to comment.

Woolfenden is now managing director of Sunday Business. He has previously worked for Telegraph Newspapers, where he was promotions director.

He joined Express Newspapers in 1998 as marketing director, overseeing the Daily Express, Sunday Express and Daily Star.

Owner Richard Desmond has wielded the axe at Express Newspapers since taking over last November.

The most recent casualty is Sunday Express executive editor Michael Pilgrim, who left last week after a leaked memo revealing Desmond’s “intolerable editorial interference”.