Tradeprint MD to step down

Tradeprint managing director Simon Cooper has resigned from his role and will transition out of the business over the coming weeks.

Cooper has been managing director of the Dundee-based operation since the beginning of 2017, when owner Cimpress combined its Tradeprint and Exaprint teams in the UK.

Prior to that he was managing director of Exaprint UK, after launching the business here in 2013. Cimpress acquired Exaprint in 2015.

Cooper has overseen a period of substantial change at £12m turnover Tradeprint, including a restructuring of the 160-strong team and the implementation of a new online ordering platform.

For the past 19 months he has been commuting to Dundee on a weekly basis from his home in Essex, but said he now wished to spend more time with his family.

“I really enjoyed getting my teeth into the restructuring and replatforming of the business. A ton of energy was needed, and I had that energy and was willing to make sacrifices,” he explained.

“Now that is done, the new management structure is in place and everyone understands what we've got and what we need to do. The plan is laid out and we are in the execution phase. Spending every week away from my family is not something I want to continue to do.”

Cooper said he and his family had considered relocating to Scotland, but it was not an appropriate time to uproot his children.

His precise leaving date is still to be decided, and a transition phase is under discussion. It’s not currently known whether Cooper will be directly replaced.

Piet Hein van Niekerk, Cimpress vice president portfolio management for the Upload and Print businesses is likely to step in as interim managing director when he does step down.

Cooper has spent 24 years in print and said that after taking some time off he would “almost certainly” look for a new opportunity in the industry.

“I have a deep knowledge and, in some ways, love for the industry. No doubt after a bit of time away I will start missing it!” he added.