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- Rosie Boycott, editor of the Independent and Independent on Sunday, has left the group to take charge of the Express and Express on Sunday.

Richard Addis the editor of the Express titles has resigned and Boycott will join Express Newspapers on 27 April.

It is understood that Boycott's departure from the Independent follows a series of disagreements with the approach of the 100 per cent owner of the titles, Independent Newspapers of Ireland, and a clash with Andrew Marr, the editor-in-chief.

According to Boycott: "Whilst I have loved editing the Independent and Independent on Sunday, the opportunity to edit the Express - a quality campaigning tabloid with terrific style and intelligence, which can become a passionate defining paper for the millennium, in the most exciting middle market tabloid climate for years - is too great a challenge to miss."

Boycott had been made editor of both Independent titles in February following Marr's dismissal from the weekday Independent title. However, Marr was brought back to the Independent in his new role when Independent Newspapers of Ireland took overall control of the papers from Mirror Group earlier this year.

His return threw Boycott and Marr together in a highly unusual power sharing arrangement, with Boycott running news and features and Marr comment and analysis.

In the short-term, it is understood that Marr will now edit the two titles in his role as editor-in-chief, until an editor can be found to replace Boycott.

No one was available for comment at Independent Newspapers.

At the Express, Addis has battled over the last 18 months to improve ailing circulation figures in the face of strong competition from the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday. He has unveiled a series of new looks in an attempt to attract younger readers.

However, the gap has continued to grow with the Daily Mail now more than one million copies clear of its weekday Express rival, which currently sells 1.2 million copies a day.

Lord Hollick, chief executive of United News & Media, said: "Richard has made an immense contribution to the turnaround of The Express. As editor he has dramatically improved the quality of the newspapers, stabilised circulation and proven that a seven day operation is a viable way forward."