Derk Haank, a director of Reed Elsevier and chief executive of its science and medical division Elsevier, has resigned. Beginning February 1, 2004, Haank will take over as chief executive of Springer, the professional publishing group that investment firms Cinven and Candover plan to form through the merger of BertelsmannSpringer and Kluwer Academic Publishers. The equity groups acquired KAP in January and are awaiting approval of their purchase of BertelsmannSpringer from Bertelsmann. Haank will have an equity stake in Springer. Until a replacement is found, Elsevier senior managers will report to Reed Elsevier CEO Crispin Davis.