He met his wife Julia at the PrintWeek Awards (the resulting PrintWeek article about this momentous event ‘PM couple tie the knot after cutting the rug’ is framed in the guest bedroom), and the couple have an eight-year-old son. His hobbies include singing and going to the opera. He’s also mad about motor sport and The Archers.
Why did you get into printing?
I was trying to get into the arts admin world with an opera company or music festival after university. I went to help out for three weeks in customer services at Apollo Offset in the City and stayed nine years
What would be your dream job?
Chief executive of the Royal Opera House
What is your favourite film?
Four Weddings and a Funeral or almost any Bond film
Sweet or savoury?
Savoury
Who do you admire most in the industry?
Steve Nunn (Williams Lea Tag and now HH Global) for his single-minded purpose in driving the outsourced print management proposition forward over the years
What is your favourite saying?
‘Be careful of the toes you tread on whilst climbing the ladder; they may be connected to the foot that kicks your arse on the way down’
What is your favourite album?
The Alan Parsons Project’s Eye in the Sky
What is your favourite book?
Growing up my favourites were the Swallows and Amazons series by Arthur Ransome. I read all 12 at least six times and still have the dog-eared paperbacks in my study. I’m currently reading Conversations with the Pixie by Dee Nicholls
Who would you like to be stuck on a desert island with?
Bear Grylls – I’d stand a chance of getting out alive
What is your greatest ambition?
Paying off the mortgage
Who or what makes you laugh?
Alex, my son
Where would you like to be now?
Skiing in the Alps
What’s your worst fashion disaster?
Some would say my pink moleskin suit… but I’m partial to it
Who would be your favourite party guests?
Stephen Fry, Kristin Scott Thomas, Simon Callow and Emma Thompson would make for an entertaining dinner party
What was your childhood obsession?
Making music closely followed by reading. Neither of which I do enough of now
What is the worst kind of print?
Anything with offensive typography
What advice would you give to your teenage self?
Don’t worry about fitting in, be true to yourself
How would you like to be remembered?
An honest and decent bloke
Life is…?
Wonderful and precious – make the most of it
