JOHNSTON Press's chief operating officer Danny Cammiade, who is overseeing cost-cutting at the publisher, has struck a deal to leave the company at the end of March in return for an £824,000 pay and bonus package.

Mr Cammiade, who joined Johnston Press in 1992 through its acquisition of TR Beckett, was the best-paid director at Edinburgh-based Johnston Press last year as he took home £825,000 including a £404,000 cash bonus. This dwarfed the £701,000 for chief executive Ashley Highfield, which included a £190,000 cash and shares bonus.

It had been intended Mr Cammiade, who has been on the company's board since 2005, would leave at the end of 2012 .

Meanwhile, Johnston Press this week announced it was cutting up to 30 editorial roles at its Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday publications.