Mystery surrounds the departure of Orlov, who was brought in by Richard Desmond and joint group managing director Stan Myerson to drive the advertising department on the new London paper.
The former-London Evening Standard director of advertising was hired in May 2003 during a flurry of high-profile arrivals including ex-Metro International distribution guru Christian Toksvig.
However in the intervening 20 months Orlov has been left with little to do after the Office of Fair Trading launched an investigation into distribution contracts held by Associated Newspapers and London Underground.
The OFT’s ruling on the investigation has still to be announced and it is expected that a favourable decision for Express Newspapers would still leave it at least six months away from a launch of the title.
A spokesman for Northern and Shell declined to comment on Orlov’s exit from the company, although other industry sources said it is believed he left Express Newspapers last week.
Meanwhile, Pemberton, who joined as group marketing director for Express Newspapers just six weeks ago after quitting his high profile job as strategy director at media agency Carat, is the latest member of team to leave after a short period.
Victoria Hazell joined from IPC Connect last summer to head the commercial end of the company's portfolio of celebrity magazine, only to leave just months later.
Pemberton had replaced Roland Agambar, who left to return to News International as marketing director for The Sun and the News of the World.
It is understood that no decision has been made as to who will replace Pemberton, although it is likely that candidates from the both within the company and elsewhere in the industry will be considered this time round.
By Kevin May
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