Claire Grady the first female editor of the Irish Independent announced yesterday that she intends to step down from her role and "is leaving INM (Independent News & Media) with immediate effect."

Ms Grady was appointed editor on August 9th 2013, and was described on her appointment by Stephen Rae, editor in chief of INM, as "one of the outstanding journalists of her generation." Ms Grady did not respond to requests for comments on why she chose to step down as editor.

In a statement Mr Rae said: “I would like to express our sincerest gratitude to Claire Grady for her work as editor of the Irish Independent.”

“Claire was the first female editor at the Irish Independent and played a major role in developing the title and in leading the rollout of the new production system at the title. We wish her the very best with her future plans,” he added.

Roy Greenslade, professor of journalism with City University London, concluded in his Guardian blog yesterday: "Her departure will be seen as calling into question Rae's judgment."

Ian Mallon, group head of news, will take on the editor's role at the Irish Independent on an interim basis. A recruitment process to appoint a new editor will now begin, INM said, and the position will be advertised shortly.

Mr Mallon is seen as an early front-runner for this position.

There are a number of other award-winning experienced journalists within the group who may also be considered for the job along with external candidates.

The ABC Island of Ireland Report for the first half of 2014 which was published last week shows the Irish Independent's circulation fell 7.2 per cent to 112,383, down 8,737 copies year-on-year.

Meanwhile the National Union of Journalists held a meeting yesterday to discuss “ongoing developments” at INM where the media company is proposing to merge elements of its Herald title with the Sunday World.

The NUJ said in a statement it had passed a motion that “expresses grave concern at the deliberate and sustained attacks on the terms and conditions of employees of Independent News & Media.”

“The decision to enforce wholesale changes in working conditions and the imposition of a joint industrial structure represents an attack on the editorial integrity of the Herald and Sunday World,” it added.

“The branch fully supports Independent Newspapers chapel (which includes employees of the Herald) and the Sunday World chapel in their opposition to the proposals and calls on management to enter into negotiation with the NUJ before further implementation of the plan.”

INM will issue its half-year financial report for the six months ended June 30th 2014 this morning at 7am.