Boughton succeeds Mark Bristow of Friedheim International, who served an extended term to cover the coronavirus pandemic. The handover took place at Picon’s Annual General Meeting earlier this month.
Boughton has been with label and packaging equipment manufacturer Edale for 27 years, having joined with an engineering degree and taken the business through to its acquisition by Canon Production Printing.
He said he likes the ability to network and to get a good steer on the direction of the industry through Picon membership. As a partners-based business, he says that Edale has benefitted from collaboration opportunities as well as TAG/TAGX training grants and access to good knowledge.
Boughton paid tribute to Bristow who, having served three years, is the longest serving chairman since Picon rebranded in 1993.
“He has had a very disrupted term of office. We have enjoyed his particularly good speeches; he is a very well-informed and interesting person.”
Boughton said he hoped that his term of office would provide Picon with continuity and stability. His aim is to drill down into member companies, to make a wider range of staff aware of the benefits that Picon offers.
Picon CEO Bettine Pellant said: “The appointment of James Boughton as chairman marks the return to business as normal after the pandemic.
“Picon has provided a valuable networking and communication service to its customers throughout this challenging period and we now look forward to meeting up in person more often and to continuing our work of ensuring the printing supplies industry remains strong, relevant and has a voice in the wider community.”
Three other Picon members have joined the Picon Council this year – Neil Jones, managing director of Bobst UK; Kevin O’Donnell, head of marketing, graphic communications at Xerox UK, Ireland and the Nordics; and Peter Murphy, managing director of Turnbull & Scott.
Others serving on the Picon Council are Neil Sutton (Komori); Ryan Miles (Heidelberg UK); Andy Pang (Koenig & Bauer); Iain Bullock (Renz); Stuart Murphy (Rollem); Tim Klemz (Compact Engineering); and Robert Flather (Kolbus).
