Dann leaves on Thursday, to set up his own development and production company. He will be retained by Emap on a project basis to oversee Emap Performance TV's external commissions such as the Smash Hits Poll Winners Party, the Kerrang! Awards and the Q Awards.
Dann, the former BBC head of music, joined Emap in November 2000 to develop pop brands such as Smash Hits and The Box across radio, TV, print and online.
At the BBC he was responsible for TV, radio and online music output. However, he lost control of radio as part of BBC director-general Greg Dyke's restructuring of the corporation. He was made redundant when the remainder of his division was merged with BBC Entertainment.
Stephen Palmer, managing director of Emap's forthcoming celebrity magazine -- code named Project Monkey -- will take on Dann's responsibilities for Smash Hits magazine.
Elsewhere in the company, Emap Automotive/Active -- its car and leisure publishing division -- is axing 100 jobs and closing at least one magazine as part of a restructuring of the unit.
AutoTrade magazine will be the first casualty of the overhaul at the unit in Peterborough, with the loss of five staff.
Malcolm Gough, chief executive of Emap Automotive/Active, said: "There will be job losses across the board. We are looking to have a leaner company, which is capable of growing faster, and that will mean redundancies," he told the local press.
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