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News International has lost another key management figure with the

resignation last week of Toby Constantine, marketing director of Times

Newspapers, who has left to join his former colleague, Ellis Watson, in

establishing a new internet venture.

Watson and Constantine are to set up a company - understood to have

financial backing of around pounds 10 million from the City - to provide

e-services in the communications industry. The venture will supply

information and content for the internet, as well as personal

communications services. Neither Watson nor Constantine was available

for comment as ±±¾©Èü³µpk10 went to press.

Constantine’s departure follows that of Watson, general manager of

CurrantBun.com, who quit NI last month. In July, Doug Flynn, managing

director of News International, also resigned to join Aegis Group as its

chief executive.

Camilla Rhodes, managing director of Times Newspapers, said: ’Toby has

made a tremendous contribution over the past few years to the growing

success of The Times and the market pre-eminence of The Sunday Times. He

has brought his own unique style and energy to the titles.’

Patrick Sheriff, deputy marketing director of Times Newspapers, has been

made acting marketing director in Constantine’s place.

NI is still seeking candidates for Watson’s previous role as marketing

director of The Sun and The News of the World, and the general manager’s

post at Currant-Bun.com is still vacant.

Constantine leaves NI after seven years. He joined as marketing manager

of News Group Newspapers in 1992, became marketing manager of Times

Newspapers in 1995, and was promoted to marketing director a year later.

Before joining News International he was an account manager at Allen

Brady & Marsh and the sales promotion agency, Option One.