Johnson’s career at News Limited has spanned nearly five decades. He has been group technical director since 1975, after joining in 1964.

The 69-year-old told ProPrint his decision to retire was partially motivated by a desire to spend more time with his wife, who has MS. “It’s time to put family first.”

News Limited is yet to announce who will succeed Johnson.

Johnson (pictured) started in the industry working as an apprentice on The Land. After laying out a News Limited job advertisement looking for compositors based in Canberra, he decided to apply for the job himself.

He worked on the very first issue of The Australian, and thought he and Rupert Murdoch were the only two people still at the company to have worked on the launch edition.

Johnson worked his way up the ranks to become a production manager based in Sydney, before taking on his current title in 1975.

He is also a former director and president of PANPA (Pacific Area Newspaper Publishers Association).

Johnson recently presided over News Limited’s soon-to-be-completed $52m upgrade to its Townsville printing plant.

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