Reiner Mittelbach, whose role as Ifra chief executive disappeared with last July’s merger, is to leave WAN-Ifra at the end of May. Credited with helping guide the successful merger after transforming Ifra from a print-centric organisation to one focussed on multimedia and media convergence, he greatly expanded its research activities on the future of the news business. WAN-Ifra president Gavin O'Reilly says he provided “exceptional service” to the newspaper industry: “His contributions to the merger between Ifra and WAN helped set the direction of the new organisation, to the benefit of the entire industry. “We wish him well in his future endeavours." Mittelbach took the helm at Ifra’s Darmstadt, Germany, headquarters in 2001. He began his career in 1986 with Unilever in their packaging group 4P, and in 1996 – after a variety of other positions – he joined cutting systems manufacturer and close Heidelberg affiliate Polar-Mohr as sales director. Two-and-a-half years later, he moved to Heidelberg, where he was European and North American sales director for its Speedmaster sheetfed presses, and later senior marketing vice president for its finishing division.