Picquet, current exports director at Duplo International, will take over the role as the company’s new chairman and chief executive from 1 January 2021, with Greenhalgh leaving the business at the end of 2020.
Picquet was previously chief executive of Duplo International from 2012 to 2016, at which point he left the business and moved back to his home country of Belgium. He had reported to Greenhalgh, who was chairman during his tenure.
He later rejoined the business, first through Duplo France and then moved back to Duplo International as exports director in 2018. He will remain residing in Belgium, commuting as and when required.
“We are fortunate to have someone like Bruno Picquet, who already knows our organisation, products and people so well, to take over the leadership of our organisation,” said Duplo International HR director Judy Thomson.
“Bruno thoroughly understands our EMEAR market and customers and his vision and energy will further strengthen our organisation.”
Picquet, who had worked at Coca-Cola prior to his first stint with Duplo, added: “Duplo International has grown continuously in the last 20 years under Robin’s leadership.
“I am excited about the challenge ahead of me. I have been fortunate to work alongside Robin for quite some time, which will ensure a smooth transition in the company’s leadership.”
Greenhalgh, who has been involved with Duplo since 1984, set up Duplo France in 1995 and lead the company through a successful MBO in 2006.
He is pictured below in 2012 marking the opening of the firm's new UK facility with Duplo president Tokio Sakamoto.
He posted about his departure on LinkedIn: “After nearly 40 years with Duplo, the time has come to move on. It has been an extraordinary privilege to work with so many great people, learn about myself and new cultures that I shall not forget this journey. Bruno, my close friend and colleague of 10 years will be taking over from me.”
A number of Greenhalgh’s current and former colleagues paid tribute underneath his post.
Dominic Quennell, who was previously vice president of global marketing at Duplo Corporation, said: “You have led Duplo on a great journey, though some challenging times, since you took over nearly twenty years ago.
“The wonderful culture that you have created in the company will endure and I know that you will look back on your many years there with great affection and a good deal of justified pride.”
HP's UK and Ireland country manager for Indigo and PageWide web presses, Peter Jolly, who was previously Duplo’s UK managing director, added: “Robin, at the age of 32 you gave me the break that has defined the rest of my professional life. Thank you for taking a punt on me – giving me the freedom, trust and confidence to try things, mess them up and be better next time.
“The business fundamentals you taught me in the early years still stand me true to this day...enjoy the next phase of your life, no doubt involving fast cars, golf and time with your wonderful family.”
The EMEA sales and distribution arm of Duplo Corporation in Japan, which sells products to 170 countries around the world, Duplo International is responsible for 60 countries and operates through more than 100 local distributors.
Its product range includes digital packaging and print embellishment machinery, saddle stitchers, bookletmakers, perfect binders, sheet feeders, collators, digital cutter/creaser/slitters, UV coaters, folders, guillotines and digital duplicators.
The business has just launched Impostrip Pro, a new end-to-end software platform that is said to bring post-press automation into pre-press.
