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The PrintWeek Power 100 (50-100)
Following a lengthy and often passionate debate, we finally managed to pull together who we believe to be the 100 most powerful people in print.
Once again, we have a new number one, with Williams Lea's Tim Griffiths taking over the hot seat from Wyndeham's Paul Utting following a momentous year for the BPO behemoth. PrintWeek would like to thank all readers who took the time to submit their own suggestions and sponsor JPL Group for its valued support. We hope that you enjoy reading the list as much as we enjoyed compiling it.
50 Luke Pigott (NEW)
Howard Hunt Group
Why A new name breaks into the top half of the Power 100 and not before time too, according to several in the industry. The managing director of DM specialist Howard Hunt Group has overseen growth and innovation as well as keeping his staff on their toes with his energy and enthusiasm. It's "infectious" in the company, insiders say, and has led to the group branching out into areas beyond print. Howard Hunt's data arm, set up four years ago, is now turning over £4m on its own and £3m has been spent on setting up the company's digital capabilities. Pigott has also driven Six Sigma and is boosting Howard Hunt's environmental credentials. The strategy has resulted in a turnover for the group of £46m.
51 Peter Taylor (45)
Xerox UK
Why Xerox's sales star Taylor may have slipped in our table, but his year has been anything but slow. Earlier this year, he took on responsibilities in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, in addition to his post heading up the graphics arts business in the UK. Taylor is considered one of the brightest stars in the Xerox team, not least for his success with the iGen3.
52 Nick Dixon (50)
Howitt
Why He may "party like a teenager but dance like a dad", but Dixon's ambitions for this year have been anything but juvenile. Howitt is expanding its Edenbridge facility four-fold to manage its multi-media capabilities. It has also opened offices in Scotland in hopes of filling the gap that the closure of Pillans & Waddies left last year. Dixon also married this year – after surviving not one but four stag nights.
53 Jim Todd (49)
Heidelberg UK
Why According to colleague Mark Hogan, sales director Todd has worked hard this year to re-establish the SM 102 perfector's position in the market. However, keen to find interest in kit other than that made by Heidelberg, he has also acquired a classic E-type Jaguar. As Hogan puts it: "He's reached that dangerous age." Perhaps it was to replace the car that he backed into the trailer of his boat recently.
54 Tom Johnson (43)
Newsfax International
Why Like The Guardian's Joe Clark, Johnson's drop can be attributed to the fading effect of the newspaper's move to the Berliner format. But with new sites up and running in Essex following the Olympic move, and the company set to print the relaunched Guardian Weekly, it would be no surprise to see the firm's managing director up again in 2008.
55 David Murray NEW
BemroseBooth
Why Murray took over as managing director of Bemrose-Booth in October, having previously headed up Communisis' personalised products division. The company already has a strong technical base and Murray is keen to develop technologies such as low-cost radio frequency identification (RFID). Moving forward, he plans to focus on investment, training and further expansion of e-commerce business.
56 Eddie Williams (54)
Litho Supplies
Why As national sales director and a member of the board at Litho Supplies, Williams has this year taken the firm forward on several new fronts. Under his control, a relationship with GAE was formed to sell Shinohara kit in the UK. He has also launched a specialist inkjet arm and overseen the opening of two Xerox franchises for the office market.
57 Alistair Gough NEW
PaperCo
Why As managing director of the £360m-turnover paper merchant PaperCo, Gough is one of the top players in paper. He was also elected as the president elect at this year's National Association of Paper Merchant's AGM. A pioneer of training, he has moulded together companies with a local strength and a national identity. A lover of golf (he has a handicap of 12), he plays at a club described by a source as the course of choice for paper company managing directors.
58 Roy Bailie (57)
The Baird Group
Why Having acquired Newspress in June last year, The Baird Group is performing steadily. So far this year Bailie has been responsible for turning Thanet Press around in terms of profitability and colleagues describe him as being "highly motivated and focused". But at the moment, being a proud dad, he's pre-occupied with arranging his daughter's wedding in Tuscany – that is, when he's not sailing.
59 Andrew Hillman NEW
Butler & Tanner
Why Book printing, as the proposed closure of Bath Press proves, has been in the doldrums in recent years. Somerset-based B&T's financial troubles have reflected the problems, too; it posted an operating loss of 7% of its turnover in its 2005 accounts, making it one of the least profitable printers in the UK. Step in Andrew Hillman, who has taken on the difficult task of turning things around. Hillman joined the firm in January as executive chairman and has wasted no time in putting his plans into action. He quickly rejigged management and negotiated a £2.8m refinancing package, which Hillman described as "momentous", with its pension fund. Hillman, like other colour bookprinters, is now hoping that the impending closure of Bath Press will benefit the rest of the sector – and his firm's fortunes in the coming year will be seen as a bellwether for the future of the market.
60 Dave Wigfield NEW
Kodak GCG
Why After arriving in England with his family in January to head up Kodak GCG, Wigfield has spent the past six months meeting as many UK customers as possible. He is keen to explore all that this great isle has to offer which has led him, we hear, to some less than salubrious areas of London in search of that most quintessential of British dishes – the curry.
61 Charles Grant-Salmon (58)
4DM Group
Why Apparently, Grant-Salmon describes 4DM as his "train set", and as he passes its day-to-day running over to his team and concentrates on future strategies, he probably feels confident they will go steady with the controls. That's because this chief executive has trained them well and is admired for the way he mentors young hopefuls through to senior positions.
62 Tony Rafferty (69)
Printing.com
Why Chief executive Tony Rafferty has spent the past year expanding his franchise business worldwide, with an overseas master licensee in New Zealand, which has adopted Printing.com's systems and software and now has three franchisees of its own. Rafferty, who is known for his obsession with figures, has also secured an agreement to set up in France and is close to a deal in the US.
63 Rupert Middleton (59)
Trinity Mirror
Why Trinity Mirror is in the process of selling off many of its local newspapers, and the group is currently set to make around £200m for its Midlands locals. It also saw a "marginal reduction" in contract printing due to revamps to its presses in Watford and Glasgow. Group director of manufacturing Middleton is overseeing the changes: his next job is to find a replacement for Richard Gray at the Trinity Oldham plant.
64 Keith Dalton (61)
Fujifilm Graphic Services
Why Dalton has continued to win market share for Fuji in difficult trading conditions, through considerable determination, persistence and with a very close eye on every aspect of the business. He has also had a series of price rises to pass on to customers – never an easy task. And with inkjet acquisitions due to bear fruit, it should be another interesting year ahead.
65 Tim Bowdler (70)
Johnston Press
Why Chief executive Bowdler's steady climb up our rankings has continued after a year of growth, with more acquisitions and a growing focus on 'hyper-local' and online publishing. On the print front, it has been a busy year. The well-respected and unfailingly charming Bowdler pressed the button on the group's flagship Dinnington plant last autumn, and work is progressing at Portsmouth, while a new investment at Morton's of Portadown is planned. But the restructure has also brought closure – or plans for it – to Johnston's Falkirk and Sheffield print plants and its Chesterfield pre-press facility.
66 Stephen Clark (63)
Littlewoods
Why Clark has settled quickly into his new role as group publishing director. After just five months at the helm, he won a Customer Service Award at the group's inter-company awards last Christmas. He has also earned the nickname "tango", thanks to the pair of bright orange shoes he likes to wear while driving around in his bright orange car. On a more serious note, the fast and furious rebel "is very customer friendly and laid back", says a colleague.
67 Andreas Schillinger (65)
Muller Martini
Why It's been good year for Muller Martini and retaining business hasn't been a problem for its UK managing director Schillinger, who has a reputation for being a man of his word. One colleague says: "He's a real gent, loyal, kind and his word really is his bond." He is also good at breaking stereotypes – he has a "great sense of humour and an infectious giggle", we are informed.
68 Charles Jarrold (72)
Southernprint
Why This year, Southernprint has reeled in an impressive tally of work, while renewing contracts with Emap, IPC Media, Future and Dennis. Outside work, managing director Jarrold is all-action. He ran the Amsterdam marathon last October in 3hrs 55mins. Ten years earlier, he completed the London Marathon in 4hrs 12mins. A colleague says: "Charles must be the only person who gets faster as he gets older."
69 Andy Ruddle (71)
Real Digital International
Why Real Digital managing director Andy Ruddle has been throwing his cash about, investing £2m at Ipex on eight inserting machines from Buhrs and launching a finishing system able to cut personalised perforations on transactional or direct mail pieces. He describes his logic as a "find a way" culture. Colleague David Laborn comments: "Work is his passion. He's very focused on what he does."
70 Ray Hillhouse (68)
Presstek
Why When Hillhouse was put in charge of Presstek's entire European distribution channel, his colleagues had only one concern – how would our European neighbours understand his Glaswegian accent? Thus far, this has not been an issue, and in 2006 Presstek recorded its highest ever sales of DI presses. He is also described by those who work with him as a "real grafter" and a tenacious salesman.
71 Gary Verity NEW
On Demand Communications
Why When Yorkshireman and part-time sheep farmer Gary Verity was appointed as managing director of Adare's high-street chain division, On Demand Communications (ODC), last September, he was a newcomer to print. But it took only six months for him to stamp his authority on the sector. In March this year, Irish investment firm Boundary Capital bought ODC, retaining Verity in the MD's chair to head up the high street's best-known print brands, Prontaprint and Kall Kwik. Verity, who ran the New York Marathon last November to raise money for Cancer Research, is described by colleagues as a man who "loves leaping tall buildings in a single bound". His background in financial services, international business and retail have set him up as the ideal man to make Prontaprint and Kall Kwik players on the international stage. One to watch.
72 Ian Dinwoodie (73)
Xaar
Why A Liverpool FC fanatic, it has certainly been a mixed year for Dinwoodie. At work his colleagues say he combines a wry sense of humour with a steely analytical mind and a straightforward approach. These skills have been needed this year as Xaar saw off a buyout bid from a US rival. He has also been busy at Fespa demonstrating the capabilities of Xaar's flagship 1001 and 760 printheads.
73 Catherine Hearn NEW
Polestar
Why Appointed as chief operating officer in December 2006, Hearn has had a busy time of late. Playing a key role in the refinancing process, she has also found a successful resolution to the Polestar Pension Scheme. She is the outgoing chair of Proskills Print Forum and on the Proskills board. In the little spare time that she has, Hearn has overcome seasickness to enjoy snorkelling and diving.
74 Miles Linney NEW
The Linney Group
Why Linney is managing director of the business his ancestors established in 1851. From its humble beginnings, the Nottinghamshire-based family firm has grown to become a hugely successful print group, listed at 33 in our Top 500 last year with a turnover of £46m. This is the first time publicity-shy Linney has been featured, but we felt that leaving him out again would be a major omission.
75 Mike Dolan (99)
Media & Print Investments
Why As head of an acquisitive group, managing director and former music mogul Dolan continues to expand the Media & Print empire, taking over yet more companies this year. Those who know him describe his unwavering confidence in print as inspirational. "While so many are despairing of the industry, he has injected some much-needed optimism. It's just the attitude we need," says one observer.
76 Terry Watts NEW
Proskills
Why The Sector Skills Council was only launched in August 2005 and already chief executive Terry Watts is having an impact. "He has boundless energy and sets high targets for himself and Proskills," say colleagues. Amidst developing a Skills Agreement for the industry and launching an awards scheme, this hasn't stopped him playing the part of a family man with another baby due in August.
77 Simon Biltcliffe (84)
Webmart
Why Managing director Biltcliffe has climbed the ranks this year, which recalls memories of his ascent of 5,633m Mount Elbrus in temperatures of minus 36°C two years ago. The act symbolized both his business ethic and his personality: ambitious, hardcore and perhaps a little crazy. While he continues to execute feats of bravery in the name of charity, his online print management business is growing to greater heights under his leadership.
78 Gary Mahoney (89)
Charterhouse
Why Charterhouse is thriving under chief executive Mahoney's reins. On top of its rapid expansion into Europe, Mahoney has led the company's successful acquisition of rival print management firm Intelligent Print Solutions (IPS), and achieved sales of £65m in 2006/07 – an increase of 30%. Colleagues describe him as "professional, driven, approachable and charming", but also fresh – his favourite catchphrase is, we hear, "Have you got any mints?"
79 Dani Novick (80)
Mercury Search and Selection
Why As one colleague put it, Novick's connections are "priceless" – she counts many senior figures as friends and is "usually the centre of attention". Her obvious charm is not the only reason; she is well-respected for her business acumen, industry knowledge and ability to express her opinions. One of many recent accomplishments was leading a winning pitch to become Williams Lea's sole recruiter.
80 Martyn Eustace (78)
Premier Paper Group
Why Although chief executive Eustace can be found strumming his air guitar at rock gigs, a colleague says he is still an inspirational and powerful leader. Since Eustace took over at Premier, he has transformed the struggling paper merchant into a profitable organisation. He also gets a pat on the back for his support of Vision in Print and the training scheme Premier Development.
81 Steve Parish (66)
Tag
Why Having helped turn Tag into the UK's largest design and production agency last year, chief executive Parish has now set about consolidating Tag's position. This year, the firm was appointed by Adidas as the production hub for the distribution of all pre-press materials across Asia. The facility will expand into the broadcast arena to support Adidas as the official sponsor of the 2008 Olympics in Shanghai.
82 David Preskett (79)
Canon Europe
Why Key accomplishments for European marketing director Preskett's team over the past year include the launch and initial customer installations of the flagship imagePress C7000VP, the launch of the Canon Workflow Program and the European roll-out of Canon's Essential Business Builder Program. Time and sleep have been fairly limited in the Preskett household since April, however, with a third addition to his fast-growing brood.
83 Jamie Paterson NEW
Patersons
Why A new entry for the Power 100, Paterson entered the industry's premier league in November last year with the purchase of print management company BDL Print Group. This managing director immediately made waves by declaring that the company would have a turnover of £50m by 2012. He also showed his ambitious side with plans to acquire more print management companies in the future.
84 Tyrone Spence NEW
Buckingham Colour Quest
Why "An incredibly lively, energetic and enthusiastic man," is how colleagues describe Tyrone Spence. "He's a family man, and keeps himself very busy running and mountain biking." Previously managing director of Colour Quest, in January, he became joint managing director of Buckingham Colour Quest when his firm merged with Buckingham Colour to form one of the UK's largest B2 litho operations.
85 Simon Moore (38)
Eclipse Colour Print
Why Just because Moore has been keeping a low profile this year doesn't mean he hasn't been busy. He has led his firm to success in the cross-government framework, which in total will be worth around £1bn. His focus is on "getting things done as opposed to shouting about them", according to one contact. The fashionable aristocrat of the print industry, colleague Ben Ward describes him as "cool, calm, collected t and consistent." Ernest by 'middle name' and earnest by nature, the number plate on Moore's car reads B1 ECP.
86 Peter Alderson NEW
Alderson Brothers Print Group
Why Strictly speaking this is a dual nomination, for brothers Peter and Ron Alderson – but as the rules mean that we can only focus on one, we opted for the taller older brother Peter. The property-rich brothers celebrated 50 years in the industry last month, commemorating their golden jubilee by finalising a £10m investment with two Goss M-600 presses at its West Moseley site, and buying a Bentley Continental for Peter.
87 Peter Hammond (83)
Taylor Bloxham
Why Winning the Queens Award for Innovation, Taylor Bloxham, which has spent £9m on new kit and more than £1m on research and development over the past four years, was recognised for its creation of "a new technique of highly accurate colour reproduction" recently. Having installed the company's third 12-colour Heidelberg perfector with Cutstar, Tony Blair lookalike Hammond has successfully moved C&R Printing Services to a new factory. Although colleagues do complain that "he never buys the beers".
88 Philip Warner NEW
Warner Midlands
Why In the past year, Warner has invested £10m in the firm, putting it on target in its 10-year plan to achieve a £40m turnover. A colleague says that while he is a serious managing director, he is also a comedian capable of wickedly accurate impersonations. While his knowledge of James Bond is extensive, colleagues descibe him as more of a Mitchell brother than a 007.
89 George Thompson (88)
Harrison Scott Associates
Why Recruitment guru Thompson works behind the scenes to lubricate the industry, "by challenging management thinking in his clients", says one client. Coming from a fairly modest background in the heart of Glasgow, his biggest secret is that he helps out a couple of charities for kids with problems such as drug abuse. Often misconstrued as a regular "Jack the lad", first-class living with wealthy mates is his favourite pastime. Joint managing director Dominic Grudzien says: "Humour features strongly in George's character, but there is a serious part of him that always wants to put something back into the industry he has served for the past 20 years."
90 Simon Berg NEW
Fresh Media Group
Why Colour Systems has led consolidation in the repro sector, rather than sink like many other pre-press firms. Colleague Dominic Duffy believes FMG joint managing director Berg played a significant role in navigating it through the rough seas. In the past year, he has been central to the launches of offshoot design agency BigKid and page-turning software Ceros.
91 Nick Alexander (85)
Garnett Dickinson
Why Alexander was appointed group managing director in September last year to complete the final phase of a £20m investment in a new factory and equipment. Alongside driving profit performance, building a state-of-the-art factory wasn't easy or cheap, but it's not all hard work and no play. After a late night bet in a bar with the managing director of another printing company, he has taken up triathlons.
92 Brian Filler (86)
Screen UK
Why UK managing director Filler has had a busy year, notching up the best 12 months ever for the company in the UK. He has overseen the introduction of Screen's first offset press, the Truepress 344, and its first digital inkjet transpromo printer, the Truepress Jet520. His management style and knowledge of industry trends have earned him the respect of his staff as well as others within the industry.
93 Tim Elliott (94)
Elliott Baxter
Why Elliott has made a brave move. The Mr Positive of paper merchanting used to consider Birmingham as the North, but this year, he set up the firm's 10th branch – in Manchester. A one-time marathon runner, managing director Elliott has also sponsored the shirts for his football club, Aldershot Town FC this season. However, his business success cannot rub off everywhere: the club only managed a mid-table finish.
94 Gary Lasham (92)
Multigraphics
Why Last year, Lasham took part in a 222-mile cycling race – from one end of the country to the other. Multigraphics has run a similar course and managing director Lasham led the firm to an early summit when it won PrintWeek's 2006 Printing Company of the Year. Since heading a buy-in management buy-out at the large-format printer in 2004, he has rebranded the business and moved it to a 4,500sqm factory.
95 Mark Kerridge (97)
Benson Box
Why Kerridge is helping the Leicestershire packaging printer in its steady ascent towards being a sector leader, despite turbulent times for the market. An industry veteran says he is committed to being "best in class". Recent kit investments following last year's acquisition trail have prompted speculation that further expansion is in the pipeline.
96 Jon Hearnden (91)
Wyndeham
Why At just 33, the group sales director has positioned himself and the company as a force to be reckoned with. A colleague says that he is one of the best, who leads by example. Chris King, group production director of PrintWeek's publisher Haymarket, says that as a great all rounder, Hearnden is in a class of his own and is in great demand.
97 Tony Jones (95)
Pensord
Why Even early morning runs on the cross-trainer can't curb Jones' energy for the job. A colleague says: "Sometimes I think he gets up before he goes to bed." Chief executive Jones' drive, focus and innovation has spearheaded the team to continue its impressive growth and further enhance its product offering. It achieved a fourth consecutive year of double-digit growth in 2006 and long may it continue into 2007.
98 David Gill NEW
Capital
Why "His office door is always open," say staff, and managing director Gill is happy to roll his sleeves up and get involved. This continues at home, where he loves doing the cooking, according to wife Pam, with whom he founded and runs the firm. Capital has just rebranded and moved to a new factory in Beckton, east London. A growing force in wide format.
99 Roger Stockdale NEW
Turning Point Innovations
Why He's a keen golfer with a handicap of just 12, and, we hear, things can get a little heated when he plays dominoes. It's all evidence of a competitive streak that Stockdale takes into his business dealings. This year, the company he founded 25 years ago, NCS, bought its major rival Turning Point Technologies (TPT), creating a £20m-turnover supplier. But it was a friendly takeover, as the firms had been working together for almost a decade; even better, TPT managing director Steve Emerson stayed on board to head up marketing.
100 David Nestor NEW
First4 Print Finishing
Why At 25 years and not quite two months old, Nestor is easily the youngest member of the Power 100, but he hasn't let his lack of years hold him back and already the Blackburn-based company has a turnover of £2.6m in its fourth year. Nestor has also managed to achieve something most of us would love to do, by employing, and thus being able to boss about, his own dad. The company specialises in stitching and folding and is looking to move into die-cutting and UV varnishing in the future. In his spare time, Nestor is a big quad bike fan and after three years of semi-retirement, has announced his intention to return to competitive action with an endurance race in Morecambe in 2008. However, he will not let it get in the way of business because "First 4 comes first". A colleague and close friend says: "David is dynamic and forward thinking. He is a proactive person and likes a hands-on approach. And he is an overall nice chap."
PrintWeek Power 100 2007
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