PrintWeek Power 100 2009 (70-61)

70 Tom Johnson     (57)
Newsfax International
Why Johnson is a man who knows what he likes, so if you are his point of contact at a supplier or a customer, expect regular conversations - if not, don't hold your breath if you're looking to get hold of him. Despite his less than approachable demeanour, the Newsfax managing director is a likeable man once you get to know him. Johnson has had an intriguing year. He has ignored rumours that he was on his way out and has overseen a new press installation in east London, which is shrouded in as much mystery as the man himself. Elsewhere, Newsfax picked up the Metro printing contract.

69 Shaun Hodgkinson    (NEW)
Penguin Group UK
Why With a multimillion-pound budget and nearly 100 people under his guidance, Penguin's purchasing director holds book printers around the globe under his spell. So it's not surprising to hear that he's quite the shopper in his spare time and, although he has a more limited budget than he enjoys in his day job, apparently this hasn't dented his sartorial flair. Colleagues say his role is extremely challenging, tracking rapidly changing markets to deliver the best prices for the book publisher, although little has changed in terms of what's printed where so far. He confesses to have a burning interest in "dull things" such as running, music and films, but despite this he is known for having "unbounded energy".

68 Miles Linney     (77)
Linney Group
Why Genial boss Linney is tremendous fun, but that doesn't stop him taking his role as protector of a strong family business seriously. He tries to divide his time equally between clients and the company and describes his management ethos as "never let a colleague down, and never let a customer down". He's of the opinion that well-run family businesses could come back into vogue as part of the backlash against corporate greed, and over the past year he has taken advantage of the firm's balance-sheet strength to lay some groundwork for the future. "We've spent £10m in the worst year for the economy since the war. I feel it's a fantastic opportunity to invest with confidence," he recently said.    p

67 Mark Gibbons     (NEW)
William Gibbons
Why In many ways this is a joint nomination for Mark and his fellow managing director, and brother, David, who between them head up that rarest of organisations - a profitable magazine printer. According to its latest accounts, the firm increased its turnover by 13% to £32.4m, yet still managed to hold on to its impressive double-digit profit margin. So, if turnover is vanity and profit is sanity, Gibbons must be the vainest and sanest web printer in the land - although being a Wolverhampton Wanderers fan throws a question mark over both assumptions in Mark's case. Gibbons' peers admire the firm's KISS philosophy - ‘keep it simple, stupid' - and this is echoed by customers, with one saying: "There's no secret to their success, it's a simple combination of good management, good products and flexibility."

66 Conor Donnelly     (67)
Paragon Group
Why As chairman of the pan-European Paragon Group, Donnelly has overseen a period of growth for Paragon, with revenues currently standing at £147m. Credited with having a definite focus on investing in people, as well as technology, Donnelly has led a management team that has an aggressive acquisition strategy in the UK and Europe. He has a strong track record that has seen the group celebrate its 10th year of profitable growth, plus a recent expansion into Romania.

65 Chris Ingram     (NEW)
York Mailing
Why "We would not be where we are today without his good entrepreneurial skills," says one company insider. It was those skills that helped guide York Mailing to clinch 2008's PrintWeek Company of the Year Award. Chief executive Ingram and his team have built the firm's success on the back of an ambitious investment programme and solid green credentials. Ingram also knows how to lighten the mood, according to colleagues, who say that he likes to have a joke and a laugh. He's also a bit of a petrolhead and in the dim and distant past indulged in motor racing.

64 Eddie Williams     (58)
Litho Supplies
Why It's been a very tough time for Litho Supplies' sales director Williams over the last couple of years. In 2008, the business made its first loss in 42 years and, so far, 2009 looks like it will prove to have been equally tough. However, the company has implemented a stringent cost-cutting regime to battle through. It could be argued that the timing of its acquisitions of GAE and large-format specialist Andersons at the top of the market were unfortunate, but Williams vehemently defends the strategy. The firm's success at Sign UK and absence from Northprint speak volumes about its future. Williams stays out of the limelight to spend time with his family and while colleagues are wary of his short fuse, they are fiercely loyal.

63 John Charnock     (NEW)
St Ives
Why His absence last year was unwelcome, so he's back, which won't be popular with the St Ives Group's modest technical director. Charnock is well regarded, as one industry insider put it, "he has great values and wants the industry to be successful before anything else". As well as the day job, which includes overseeing a new web at Roche, digital book developments at Clays and a raft of efficiency and quality improvement initiatives across the group, Charnock has put his own time and money into launching the student mentor scheme. Biker buddies refer to him as ‘comet' for his speed.

62 Mark Kerridge     (63)
Benson Group
Why As managing director of the Benson Group, Kerridge has had a busy year driving the company forward. It purchased certain trading assets of Cameron Linn in a last ditch-deal as the food packaging company was to be liquidated, a move that boosted the company's turnover to £93m - with Kerridge eying to push this closer to the £100m mark in the near future. The firm also appeared at number 78 in The Sunday Times ProfitTrack100 chart, published recently. A devoted family man, one Power 100 voter says that Kerridge continues to grow his packaging group to "Premier League" status.

61 Simon Biltcliffe     (73)
Webmart
Why His strong yellow brand is reminiscent of another product, marmite, and love him or not (there are plenty of people in both camps if his regular spats with fellow bloggers on printweek.com are anything to go by), the Webmart managing director is passionate about print. He's won loads of awards for his entrepreneurial spirit and his business continues to go from strength-to-strength. The recent p creation of a contract sales division focusing on retail and leisure pushes the company closer to a more pure print management model, proving that the shaggy-haired Yorkshireman is nobody's fool.

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