80 (2014: 85)
Darren Coxon, Pensord
Why The businessman has arrived; the sportsman is a fairway behind. Sales at Pensord are up, turnover is a healthy £12m and the digital division is looking good, all under the leadership of managing director Darren Coxon who back in the summer signed up for the UK’s first 10-colour Heidelberg Speedmaster SX 102-10P press at 150-staff base in Blackwood, South Wales. “Darren is focused but relatively chilled and has a fun-loving side,” says a colleague with a nod towards Coxon’s love of golf. “His great ambition is to get into single figures on his handicap.”
79 (2014: 84)
Anthony Newman, Cancer Research UK
Why Taking the role of CRUK’s brand, marketing and PR director in February, 10 years after joining the charity, Newman is responsible for developing and executing the Race for Life campaigns, among others, that bring together around 600,000 women annually to raise money for cancer research. “A real champion of print amid complex integrated campaigns” according to one associate, Newman is praised for his strategic and creative abilities and his particular enthusiasm for developing young talent. “A genuinely lovely guy who is kind to others and is often the subject of his own jokes”, says one colleague who adds: “And he talks about his VW campervan... a lot.”
78 (2014: 77)
Jon Tolley, Prime Group
Why One of managing director Tolley’s focuses this year has been filling the HP Indigo 10000 Prime installed last September, which doubled its digital capacity overnight. But, according to a colleague, with the resulting sales targets smashed and a major contract secured, all in all it’s been a good year – apart from when he broke his leg jogging, of course. Described as “a great ambassador” for print by one peer, although Tolley himself reportedly prefers the term “poster boy”.
77 (2014: 81)
David Taylor, Lightning Source
Why Fittingly for someone who has immersed himself in the global book trade for the past 25 years, Lightning Source’s group managing director has a bachelor and a master’s degree in English Literature from the University of Reading – post graduation he completed a diploma in management studies and an MBA. Taylor’s impressive CV includes a stint as a director of Blackwell’s international library supply business – he also served on the Booksellers’ Association of the UK and Ireland’s Council for several years and founded the Internet Bookseller’s Group. As well as spending time with his family in Oxfordshire, Wolverhampton-born Taylor’s other passion is Wolverhampton Wanderers FC.
76 (2014: 80)
Peter Frings, Brightsource
Why Brightsource executive chairman Frings feels a bit of a fraud being in the Power 100 as the firm has less direct involvement in print as it moves up the marketing value chain. However, print is still an important marketing channel and the firm is responsible for driving a lot of ink onto paper. Recent client wins including Thomas Cook and the RNLI both use significant volumes of print, while the ‘configurable print’ contract for Lloyds Bank speaks for itself. Frings thrives on difficult problems and says he enjoys rapid changes, which may explain the firm’s 13-year run of growth.
75 (2014: 79)
Gareth Roberts , Bishops Printers
Why Managing director Roberts is known for getting involved in “obscene races and challenges” such as mountain climbing and riding the Gran Fondo and London to Paris bike rides. “He does it for the sheer hell of it, he loves the challenge,” one colleague said. This year he set Bishops Printers the challenge of driving up customer service levels in 2016 while continuing an annual £2m investment and devising an end-to-end solution for print and mailing. A man who “is genuinely interested in people” loves literature and the threatre, especially when he attends with his three daughters, according to a colleague.
74 (2014: 76)
Stephen Docherty, Bell & Bain
Why Managing director Docherty has just spearheaded a multimillion-pound investment programme at Glasgow book printer Bell & Bain, which includes a new KBA Rapida 145 large-format litho press – due to be installed in March 2016 – and the first Horizon Smart Binding System in Europe. Colleagues say Docherty “works at a million miles an hour” and is good at identifying problems and bottlenecks in the factory and making sure that any new kit solves those issues. Father to three children – two girls and a boy – his favourite holiday destination is Tenerife, where he enjoys sunbathing with a pint of cider by his side.
73 (2014: 78)
Andy Barber, UK Mail
Why Commercial director Barber has spent the year working up plans to shake off Vistaprint’s hold on the budget W2P market and bringing the company’s IT servers in-house. He is “a super approachable” boss, according to one employee, who adds: “It’s nice to work with someone and think ‘this guy’s smarter than me’. He is super smart. His ideas come out of nowhere and they are genius.” Barber has two daughters and absolutely loves rugby union, supporting the Northampton Saints. He is also known for his interest in healthy living and goes to the gym every day before work.
72 (2014: 65)
Gary Charlton, Haymarket Media
Why Sustainability is a key focus for Haymarket Media’s head of production and procurement, reflected in his winning the PPA Sustainability Champion award. That focus extends to encompass his business, his team and his suppliers. Suppliers praise his intelligent and knowledgeable approach, which makes him “one of the best people to have on the opposite side of the negotiating table”. Haymarket has launched several print titles with Forever Sports a shining star in the ABC figures putting on an additional 45% copies. More recently it launched The Locker, a 350,000-run lifestyle magazine for the British Army.
71 (New)
Lyndsey Scott, Aktrion
Why Scott is director of the Aktrion Print operation, which is a key outsourcing partner to some of the UK’s largest printers, including News UK and Polestar. She is said to have been instrumental in diversifying Aktrion’s portfolio of facilities management services. “Lyndsey is very proactive in supporting our print operations and pushes hard to improve the areas where Aktrion has the biggest influence,” says one customer. The year has certainly finished on a high for the keep-fit fanatic who enjoys running, hiking and, gulp, boot camps – Aktrion Print picked up two coveted Golden Service Awards last month for its work at Newsprinters Broxbourne.
