Martyn Train joined the post-press kit supplier yesterday (8 July), filling the gap left following Andy Benson’s departure at the end of March.

Train joined Xerox in the mid 1990s after undertaking a work placement with the business when studying for his degree. His 23-year career with the company culminated in the role of general manager, Production Printing, developing markets. He left the business last Friday.

“We’re very excited. Martyn was exactly the profile we were looking for; understands print and we’ve known him for years. It was an easy decision,” said Duplo International chairman and chief executive Robin Greenhalgh.

He added that he first came across Train in the 1990s, when he was working in sales for Xerox on the DocuTechs and Duplo was a partner supplying inline bookletmakers.

“Martyn was one of those guys selling the solution, so the connection goes back a long way.”

While he previously held a number of senior sales and marketing roles in the UK for Xerox, for the past seven years 45-year-old Train’s role was focused on supporting the business to drive sales in areas including Latin America, South Africa and India.

“I really enjoyed the role, but it just reached a natural point. I really like the general management sides of things and my new role [at Duplo] is a true general management role, where I’m responsible for all aspects of the business, not just sales, and it keeps me away from planes to an extent too,” said Train.

“I can’t wait to get going.”

He said, coming from a corporate background, that one of the most attractive aspects of the role was the impact he could have on the business and the speed at which change can be driven, adding that he was looking forward to meeting Duplo’s customers and prospects over the coming months and getting under the hood of the technology.

“It’s an established business with great products, and Robin has been very supportive, so we’re in an investment cycle now to really push [sales].”

“The business has been doing okay for the past couple of years, but a brand like Duplo, with the products that it has, should be doing much better than okay.”

To support this the Addlestone, Surrey-headquartered business is currently bolstering its sales team with some new hires.

Train added: “I’m also looking forward to developing a better understanding of the products too; that’s something I’ve always liked to do. It’s something that should be mandatory: that whatever role you have in the company, you understand the products you represent inside out, upside down.”