Bedin, who has been instrumental in the sale of 17 Trendsetter NEWS platesetters in Italy, will review the companys position in the sector and will spearhead on-going developments.

To date there have been no Creo Trendsetter NEWS CTP installations in the UK market, which is dominated by Agfas Polaris system. Western Lithotech, Kodak Polychrome Graphics and Autologic, now part of Agfa, have also made inroads.

Bedin said: "With our Trendsetter platesetters, the potential for newspaper printers to increase their overall throughput, product quality and profitability is a reality."

He added that Italian newspaper producers had been quick to recognise

the benefits of Creos newspaper platesetters, and that he relished the opportunity of taking it to the wider European market.

However, Creo UK sales director Mark Nixon said that there were no firm plans in place for such a concerted assault on the UK market at the present time.

"At the moment Roberto is looking at all of the opportunities that are open to us and than he will make his report. Well have to look at the opportunities against any costs involved," said Nixon.

Creo Europe managing director Alon Lumbroso said the newspaper sector was extremely important for the company and that Bedin had the skills to succeed.

Flavio Corsini, who joined CreoScitex in November 2000 as a key account and newspaper solutions manager, will take Benins former role as sales director for Creo Italy.

Story by John Davies