Sheetfed service director Andrew Pang will take on Knapp’s mantle following his promotion to managing director.
"I’m really pleased that Andrew will be my successor. It was important that we appointed someone internally who has a lot of experience of KBA UK. He’s been with us six years and has done a great job," said Knapp.
Pang joined KBA UK in 2007 as sheetfed service director. He launched KBA’s approved consumables division PressConsum in 2010 before returning to the service director role in January this year. Prior to joining KBA he was print director at Butler & Tanner.
"It’s very exciting. I’ve got lots of plans, but nothing I can really talk about just yet," said Pang.
"The market is tough, but we’ve got good people and strategies in place and I’m very much looking forward to the new role and its associated challenges."
Knapp joined KBA UK in January 2001 from what was then MAN Roland. While the 49-year old said he wouldn’t officially leave until the middle of July, he added that Pang would in effect take charge immediately.
"I’ll miss the people and the camaraderie of UK print. But I’ve been at KBA for 12 years. Last year we returned KBA UK to profitability and we moved up to number two in the UK, so it’s the perfect time for me to take a break and look for a new challenge," he said.
He’s hoping to take a six-month sabbatical in the US to undertake a motorbike tour of the country before weighing up whether to return to the UK. He didn’t rule out a return to print.
