Heanue replaces the outgoing chairman Robert Flather, managing director of Kolbus UK. He commenced the two-year term on 1 July, after being selected by Flather and having the decision ratified by the Picon council, which he joined in 2012.

The Printing Industry Confederation aims to give a voice to UK print equipment manufacturers and suppliers alike.

Heanue said he will be looking to continue to achieve the goals stated in Flather’s strategic review of Picon's role, and that he would be putting specific emphasis on apprenticeships and training. 

He said: “We want to ensure that we use our voice for print manufacturers to try and speak for them but also provide benefits and training so that large companies can help the smaller companies and try and improve skillsets as we face up to an ageing workforce. 

“A lot of our members don’t do training or delay it because of the cost. So it’s about working with them to use some of the funds that we have in Picon to subsidise the training they can do.”

Picon will soon release a new concept model on providing funds for training to members in an attempt to incentivise them to take on trainees and apprentices.

“During the recession Heidelberg continued to take on apprentices because we knew that even in 2008 we still had to bring young people into the industry,” added Heanue.

Appointed Heidelberg UK managing director in 2011, Heanue joined the German-headquartered manufacturer from Citibank in 1995 and prior to becoming managing director held the role of chief financial officer for Asia Pacific then EMEA.

He added that balancing his day job with the new Picon role would be “a labour of love”.