Barry Hibbert is sensationally returning to Polestar as group chief executive.


Hibbert quit the group in December 1998. At the time he was executive director and head of publications. He had been with Polestar, and BPC before it, since 1992.


His appointment was announced to staff today (26 July). He takes up his new position practically immediately, and will be at his desk on Monday.


"I had seven successful years at Polestar, and I'm going back to something I was heavily involved in. Polestar has its challenges and my job is to lead the business forward," Hibbert told PrintWeek.


When Hibbert left Polestar his decision was said to be fuelled by a desire to be number one in a substantial business. At the time Hibbert said his departure was in no way degrading for Polestar which he described as a great company.


After a spell at mobile phone services provider Cauldwell Communications, Hibbert joined httprint last year as managing director of its fledgling European operations, now firmly established.


He had been one of the front-runners for the Polestar role, and is well-known to Polestar owner Investcorp, which also has a stake in httprint. The only obstacle appeared to be a possible conflict between the interests of the two companies. "I wish I could find the bookie who gave my odds as 20-1 - I would have made a lot of money," Hibbert quipped.


Last month Polestar chairman Nick Bryan described the appointment of a new chief executive as "a huge decision", one that Polestar simply had to get right following the departure of Jim Brown in February after just nine months in the top job.


One of Polestar's key tasks today is to inform major clients of appointment. IPC manufacturing director Jasper Scott, who had publicly backed News & Consumer chief Chris Pavlosky, said: "I'm disappointed for Chris, but I wish Barry well. He has a very difficult job to do and I await the results of his appointment with interest."


Speculation is now centred on whether Hibbert will make changes to Polestars top team, and whether his appointment will be welcomed by all of Polestars existing directors. There are a few people there with marked cards, said a source close to the company.



Rob North, httprints european sales director, will take over from Hibbert at httprint.