New year predictions: Kelly O’Sullivan, Sainsbury’s Group

It's been a landmark year for Sainsbury's group print management controller Kelly O’Sullivan, who hopes the industry can work on improving diversity and gender balance in the future.

What’s at the top of your Christmas wish list this year?
A swimming pool full of Prosecco!

What trend (business or technology) do you think 2018 will be remembered for?The impact of single use plastic.

What do you think will represent the single biggest opportunity for printers in 2019 and why?
Sustainable alternatives to single use plastics.

What do you think will represent the single biggest threat for printers in 2019 and why?
Brexit – it’s hard to plan for the unknown.

What’s the one thing that the industry should do more of, or do better, in 2019?
Consider the benefits of supporting diversity in the workplace, as it can bring improved productivity, employee engagement and profitability.

What was your highlight of 2018?
Transitioning Sainsbury’s print management in-house, to deliver cost savings and innovation to our marketing teams. I also feel very proud to be recognised in the PrintWeek Power 100. It’s been a challenging but exciting year – I have loved it!

What are your hopes for 2019?
I am passionate about women in print and so I am working on setting up a network to support women in the print industry to share experiences, build their networks and promote the benefits of gender balance – watch this space!

What is your one-word view on Brexit?
Chaos.

What was the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
Deliver through your team – you can’t do it all yourself. (And I am lucky enough to have a great team!)

What’s your favourite Christmas cracker joke?
What is black and white and read all over?
A sunburnt penguin (or a newspaper)
My daughter told me that one over dinner last night!