Hired with a remit to optimise production efficiency and help the company achieve sustainable growth, build customer relationships and maximise the capabilities of existing machinery, Williams arrived at CPS’ Caerphilly site in early March.

Simon Green, CPS managing director, said he was thrilled to welcome Williams to the group, adding that “his extensive experience, strategic mindset, and ability to bridge the gap between manufacturing and customer needs align perfectly with our vision for the future.

“With Gareth on board, we are confident in our ability to strengthen our operations, enhance product quality, and continue our growth trajectory.”

Williams brings significant industry experience to the role, having spent his early career at Stephens & George before joining Pensord and working his way up to being the firm’s general manager and then operations director.

Since leaving Pensord in 2022, Williams has led a major transformation programme at a £60m-turnover furniture firm, helping the company achieve a 46% improvement in its operational efficiency.

He told Printweek that his experience at larger firms would prove crucial in helping 29-staff CPS Group achieve its ambitions of scaling up.

“Simon has grown the business at a relatively fast pace over the last three, four years, and his plans are now to take it to the next level,” Williams said, “and that’s where he sees me coming in.”

He added that the firm was actively investing to achieve these aims.

“We’re going to be looking at large-format, and definitely [looking] at digital. We do things quite differently here, in terms of materials we print on and customers we serve, but the large-format is growing at pace.

“[CPS] has a good group of customers, and the team here is exceptional as well. They know print inside out, and I’m learning so much off them.”

The team, he added, had really made him feel welcome – and after a career in South Wales’ print industry, some faces were already familiar.

“In the print world, so many of us know each other that there were two or three people waiting to welcome me as I came in through the door,” he said.

“That was really good, and the team went out of its way to make me feel welcome. It already feels like I’ve been here for years, if I’m honest.”

Williams’ own ambitions for the team, he added, amounted to helping employees develop their own skills further.

“I’ve always been keen on developing people. I talk about processes and efficiencies, but that only ever happens if you have a good team,” he said.