Why Polestar’s chief operating officer loves Formula 1 and football almost as much as he loves print, say colleagues. The highlight of his year was undoubtedly helping to clinch the group’s single-supplier deal with IPC, with his trip to the US to review progress on the construction of the first of Polestar’s new web presses from Goss coming a close second (if you want evidence of how passionate Andreou is about print, read his Twitter updates enthusing about the new presses). The only thing that gets him more excited than seeing presses being built is watching the extension to Polestar’s Sheffield site being erected.
Why Toplis bought back into Kall Kwik in 2012 after the business fell into administration – he’d left his post as managing director of the franchise business in 2002. A year after taking over the reins he re-launched the operation targeting SME B2B companies, financial services, hotels and construction businesses and the new focus seems to be working. Toplis is a past chairman of the Franchise Association and he currently serves on the BAPC’s National Council. Those who know him say that he’s a perfectionist, a workaholic and is a “joy to work with”. Outside work he enjoys horse racing, golf and watching sport.
Why After Olley consolidated the group into a single site just over a year ago, Olro is going from strength to strength amid difficult trading conditions, kit upgrades and continuing to push the boundaries in post-press. That it’s one of the few trade finishers still around stands as a testament to Olley who remains the driving force behind the business, retaining the enthusiasm that established Coatings Direct as a go-to and reliable brand. Outside of work, he is an avid swimmer and also has a passion for cricket. He is has also increasingly involved himself with charity work with the Lord’s Taverners.
Why In less than a year, Berforts’ chief executive has gone from being at the helm of what would have been the UK’s third biggest book printer, to seeing those ambitions dashed when the book printing side of Butler Tanner & Dennis was put into administration in May 2014. Suffice to say things didn’t pan out as envisaged: “We turned it around very well, but not well enough… This is a sad day and not what I got into business for,” White said in May. He has kept a low profile since, and has no doubt been busy extricating the Berforts part from the formerly merged entity.
Why “With unprecedented change in the public sector, Lowe’s role as Apcom president, representing more than 125 in-plants, is and will be key to how print is viewed, valued and procured in the public sector.”
Why Pensord managing director Coxon has led significant change at the magazine printer since leading an MBO at the firm four years ago. The past 12 months have seen him front the firm’s “strategic plan to safeguard its future”. It has been looking at potential digital investment with the aim to provide additional services. “A bold and brave decision maker, he is a visionary leader who builds strong partnerships with key suppliers,” says one colleague. A family man who became a father again this year, Coxon had another reason to celebrate when his beloved QPR secured promotion to the Premier League in May.
Why As product marketing director of one of the UK’s largest charities Newman is responsible for an annual print spend of circa £5m. He’s also director of two of the charity’s key initiatives: Direct Giving and Race for Life. When he’s not developing and delivering campaigns for Cancer Research UK (CRUK), he’s happiest travelling around Europe in his VW camper. “He is incredibly bright, has a really good understanding of the market and is very clear about what he and CRUK are trying to achieve and how we can support that. He is also incredibly fair to deal with,” says one supplier.
Why Colleagues describe CPI UK chief operating officer Browning-Smith as “driven and fast driving”. Browning-Smith “makes change happen,” says another colleague. “He wants CPI to be the best and sets the standard high.” He’s going about things in the right way to achieve this aim with the book printer splashing the cash earlier this year on its third ‘Quantum’ line. The installation will boost the firm’s high-speed inkjet web book printing firepower by more than 60%, but given Browning-Smith’s insatiable thirst to keep CPI at the top of the UK book printing tree it’s unlikely to be the company’s last investment.
Why As managing director of print and paper advocacy organisation Two Sides Eustace heads up the industry’s efforts to promote itself to the wider world. The past year has seen the launch of Two Sides Brazil, its first operation in South America, which joins European, North American Australian and African operations. He also heads up sister organisation Print Power. Given the importance of what he does it’s reassuring to know that he’s thought of as a very clear communicator with a tireless work ethic. As a keen sailor he has a love of the water, which contrasts with a bone-dry sense of humour.
Why Lightning Source president David Taylor is a book industry veteran. As an avid reader and book collector he must enjoy the opportunity to take his work home with him. The last year has been colourful – literally – with the addition of an Canon Océ ColorStream 3700 press at the firm’s site in Milton Keynes. Although based in the UK, Taylor has a global role, having added to his responsibilities since joining Ingram-owned Lightning Source in 2003. Rather aptly his masters in English literature is from Reading. As a son of Wolverhampton he refuses “to support any football team but the Wolves”.
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