Exclusive Andy Mitchell is now the former MD of AltaVista UK, The Register can reveal.

Employees were told of Mitchell's departure yesterday, although the announcement will come as little surprise to anyone who has followed this farcical caper.

It's not know yet whether he was pushed or took the decision to jump himself, although the likelihood is that he was given little option but to resign.

A statement about his reasons for leaving, and who will succeed him at AltaVista in the UK and Ireland, will be published later this morning. ®