Ton aan de Stegge, chairman of newspaper group PCM, has become the latest casualty following the withdrawal of UK private equity group Apax last month. Aan de Stegge, who has been in the job for a year, is leaving because of ‘differences of opinion over strategy’ with the new owner, the Foundation for Democracy and the Media.

Two weeks ago, the group’s newspaper chief Philip Alberdingk Thijm was sacked by the foundation for poor performance after less than a year in the job. He is at the centre of a row over his €2m pay and bonus package.