GI Solutions client communications director Sheree Mercer-Bowell will become managing director of the circa £10m direct mail operation on the 11 April. Mercer-Bowell will report to GI chief executive Patrick Headley and join the main group board.
“Sheree is extremely customer focused and process oriented and in all the years I’ve worked with her she has always risen to any challenge. Having somebody run 4DM who has a client services background, it shows that we mean business,” said Headley.
“If 4DM has had problems in recent years, it’s been around client services and being able to cope – and I really want to make that part of the business strong. The client is king as far as I’m concerned, rule one on life is that the client is always right and rule two, if in doubt refer to rule one.”
Mercer-Bowell joined GI in 2010 and has held several senior client-facing roles at the business.
“I’m really excited about the role. 4DM has a great reputation, but my key focus will be looking at the growth capacity at the business and its USP, the next few months will be fact finding in many respects.
“I’ve been in customer-focused roles for 14 years or so, I want to make sure the business understands what it can do for the customers, move with their demands and what they want for their businesses. I’m looking forward to getting my teeth into the production aspect too, how we work and how we move that forward.”
Mercer-Bowell takes the reins as the business is in the final stages of a significant digital re-equip, looking to moves up from high-speed mono lasering and cut-sheet digital to high-speed colour inkjet.
Headley said that while the business has some “very clever and unique” selective polywrapping and enclosing lines he wanted the facility to mirror the capabilities at GI Solutions main Leicester site which has heavily invested in HP high-speed inkjet technology in recent years.
“We’re also looking at other technologies and manufacturers too, because I think the inkjet market place is constantly evolving,” said Headley.
Eclipse 4DM has also appointed Anton Group business development director Mick Coles as sales director, he will join the business in the coming weeks after accepting the role around six weeks ago.
The new appointments at 4DM follow GI buying Eclipse Web, which included Eclipse Colour, Eclipse 4DM and Direct Link last month. According to Headley, the positive impact of the acquisition was already exceeding expectations.
“We are delighted we bought them, they’re a great team and a great business – it was a great deal for everyone.”
Following the sale, Eclipse managing director Simon Moore took a “significant” stake in circa-£80m turnover GI and heads up the Eclipse Colour and Direct Link businesses.
