Masterpiece, the trading name of Graphic Facilities (Advertising), has been rocked by the sacking of its managing director and the resignation of its sales director.


John Smallwood, managing director of the high-end repro house, was dismissed late last year after disagreements with the board of owner Graphic Facilities.


Sales director Roy West resigned four days later. The third founding director, Douglas Savidge, is still at the company.


PrintWeek understands that Smallwood''s sacking was prompted by Graphic Facilities'' concerns that efficiencies had not been made in the face of poor sales during 2000.


Smallwood would not confirm this. Les Pipe, group managing director of Graphic Facilities, said it was "business as usual" at Masterpiece but refused to comment further.


The accounts of Graphic Facilities (Advertising) show pre-tax profit in steady decline over the last three years - it has halved from a high of 345,000 in 1997 to 149,500 in the year to July 1999.


Turnover rose from 2.8m in 1997 to 3.2m in 1998 but then fell to just over 3m in 1999.


Savidge said that flat sales were to be expected in the period between September and January and that there was no cause for concern. "Things are looking promising," he said. "Life goes on."


It is not known if replacements for Smallwood and West have been found.


Smallwood said: "I am very disappointed I am no longer working for the organisation. I feel the dismissal was unfair."
Smallwood and West were strongly rumoured to be joining rival repro house Adplates Group but the company denied this. Smallwood said he and West may work together and were speaking to "half a dozen" firms.


One source said relations between the main board of Graphic Facilities and Masterpiece had been marked by friction during 2000.


Graphic Facilities'' clients include some of the UK''s largest publishing houses. It is based in east London.


Story by Adam Hill