A familiar name cropped up while I was reading about the pre-pack administration and subsequent sale (see, this stuff doesn’t just happen in print) of Patientline, the oft-vilified company behind those expensive bedside TV and phone terminals in NHS hospitals. Nick Winks was brought in to the company as chief restructuring officer two years ago, and having subsequently engineered this week’s deal will no doubt be heading off to restructure something new. Those of you with memories that stretch back to the early 1990s will remember that Winks was CEO of Colorgraphic during the somewhat difficult patch when the company ran up huge debts before collapsing into administration. It will be interesting to see if his reorganisation skills end up being put to use in this sector again. 

But in the meantime, I shall add Winks to my little “where are they now?” list of notable print executives that I like to keep track of. And yes, I do need to get out more. Another recent addition was former Polestar Sheffield boss Paul Erickson (a blast from the more immediate past, admittedly), who has recovered from his sojourn in Sheffield and earlier this month became deputy public printer of the United States Government Printing Office. Congratulations, Paul.

Others on my list include Declan Salter (also now a turnaround specialist, there’s a theme developing here…), and Trevor Grice (last time I looked he was mostly fishing, but an update would be most welcome). And whatever happened to erstwhile Photobition chief and acquisition junky Eddie Marchbanks? The trail seems to have gone cold. John Clegg? Bob Pitts? Neil Lakin?