Reed's Bloomfield announces retirement

11 March 2009

Print buying

Reed Business Information's (RBI) Martin Bloomfield has announced plans to retire from his role as global procurement director at the end of April.

The 50-year-old has worked for the company for the past 28 years.

RBI chief executive Trevor Jenkins said: "Martin has always brought us creative energy coupled with a positive frame of mind. He has delivered on a number of crucial projects over the years. We will miss these qualities, but wish him well in the future."

Bloomfield worked as operations director for the company's UK arm managing manufacturing, property and facilities before moving to procurement in 2007 and operating across the UK, USA and Netherlands.

As chairman of the UK Periodical Publishing Association’s Production and Technology Committee he founded and launched the UK’s Publishing Production Annual conference.

Bloomfield said: "I must admit, I am looking forward, rather than backward. I made the decision at the age of 21 to retire at 50 and that is what I am doing. I don't have anything mapped out but I am sure I will stay active in the print industry, particularly by facilitating debates. I think there is a lot of change ahead of the print and procurement industries."

In September 2008, Bloomfield teamed with media partner PrintWeek to organise the sell-out Stationers' Hall debate on the future of print management.