Gary Kenning, the former managing director of Jarvis Porters European labels division, joined the commercial printer on 2 December as managing director.

Executive chairman and managing director Chris Hawthorne has stepped down to become non-executive chairman, but will remain involved with the company, which was founded by his grandfather in 1895.

Kenning was most recently managing director of Southam FM, the print management business that has merged with Adare sister company William Caple (PrintWeek, 6 December).

Hawthornes runs four Heidelberg Speedmasters two eight-colour B1s, a six-colour B1 and a four-colour B3 and has sales of 8m, putting it at number 271 in this years PrintWeek Top 500.

Chris Hawthorne, 60, first became involved with running the company on returning from Canada in 1966.

Story by Gordon Carson