Headley retired from Go Inspire in the summer of 2023, a year after selling the business to Xerox and having previously helmed an MBO at the group.
After taking time out he has now joined the expanding Pureprint Group as a non-executive director, and will work with shareholders and senior management on the firm’s future strategy.
Pureprint CEO Mark Handford commented: “I’m absolutely delighted Patrick has chosen to join us at this exciting time. As you would expect, he had many options available to him, but he saw the alignment between what he achieved previously and our vision for Pureprint.”
Headley quipped that he was “far too young to retire”.
He described Pureprint as “an amazing business” and said he was thrilled about the new opportunity.
“I obviously knew of Pureprint, but until I started looking more closely into the actual Pureprint story and the different sectors they work in, and then having discussed the vision with Mark, it feels like I am joining at exactly the right time.”
He also said he had been blown away by Pureprint’s software and data offering.
“I was amazed at the high level of data capability that Pureprint has, working at the heart of many of its clients’ businesses, including several applications the company has developed that are being used in core business processes.
“I am really impressed with the incredible client base Pureprint Group companies work with, and I can see the opportunities going forward are endless. I see a real opportunity to help Mark and his team deliver the next part of their strategic plan.”
Uckfield-headquartered Pureprint recently filed record results and took the wraps off a major investment round.
The £72m turnover group has also added two other key hires with Steven Pyke joining as sales director last month.
He was previously commercial sales and marketing director at Page Bros.
Today (14 October) Ben O’Leary joins Pureprint’s commercial sales team after 18 years at Belmont Press.
Separately, Close Brothers Asset Finance has announced that it organised the funding for Pureprint’s new eight-colour B1 Heidelberg Speedmaster and high-speed Stahl folder in double-quick time.
Print division sales director Nick Aust said: “Timing was key on this deal. Pureprint needed the press urgently and we managed to turn it around – start to finish – within a week.
“As a longstanding customer, we were able to this because we had an established relationship that had been built over the course of many years.
“As always, we were delighted to work with Mark and his outstanding team who really do run an exceptional operation. They are a great example of how a print firm can not only survive, but thrive, in today’s environment.”