LONDON--Publishing company Reed Elsevier PLC (REL.LN) said Wednesday that its chief financial officer Duncan Palmer has decided resigned from the company's board due to family circumstances.

The company said Mr. Palmer's resignation is effective as of Sept. 25, 2014, or such earlier date as Reed Elsevier may designate. The nomination committee of the company has commenced a process to identify Mr. Palmer's successor.

Mr. Palmer will continue in his role until a successor has been appointed, Reed Elsevier said in a short statement.

London listed shares of Reed Elsevier Tuesday closed at 850 pence, valuing the company at 9.98 billion pounds ($15.98 billion).

Write to Tapan Panchal at tapan.panchal@wsj.com

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