Ian Thompson leaving The Chronicle Herald newspaper in December

The associate publisher of The Chronicle Herald, Ian Thompson, is leaving the newspaper at the end of the year.

Thompson has been with the Herald since September 2011. He told staff Monday afternoon he will be finished at the newspaper at the end of December, according to sources.

Thompson also expressed that he stayed longer than he originally planned and noted his decision is not because of recent negotiations that saw the newsroom union agree toconcessions in exchange for fewer layoffs.

Prior to working at The Chronicle Herald, Thompson founded a PR firm, represented Nova Scotia Power and served as a deputy minister of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism.