Willett will take up the position from 4 May and replaces previous Biddles managing director Christian Testorf who left in January for "pastures new".

"We were looking for someone who was well versed in the book manufacturing techniques and understood the book market," said Peter Yates, chief operating officer W&G Baird.

Yates added that Willett would be very important in the "development of the business" following the firm's decision to shut its Guildford division and transfer all of its production work to its King's Lynn operation.

The closure was made last year with the loss of 58 jobs (PrintWeek, 17 July, 2003).

Testorf was appointed in March last year and replaced Mick Read who became deputy chairman at Biddles. Testorf was previously ControlP and Documedia director.

Earlier this year Biddles installed an IBM Infoprint 4000, increasing its book printing capacity by 30,000 books per month.