Moscow, who has been operations director at Rhapsody since 2007, moved into his new role on Friday (1 September), the same day that Pipe stepped down from the post. He started his career as a production manager at Graphic Facilities, which was subsequently acquired by the Wyndeham Group.

As managing director, Moscow will now assume day-to-day control of the business including responsibility for sales, operations and P&L across Rhapsody’s portfolio of print, digital and data services.

Pipe will continue to work for the wider Walstead Group during the remainder of 2017, while transferring the day-to-day running of Rhapsody to Moscow.

“This has been on the cards for about 18 months – there’s always been a plan to create a succession in the business. It’s been an extensive handover and grooming for Tim over a long period of time – we’ve worked closely for five or six years,” said Pipe.

“Tim has shown excellent leadership and decision-making qualities, and I have no doubt that he will build on the sound platform achieved over the last eight years. I wish him and the management team every success.”

Pipe (pictured below) has spent his career in magazine publishing, packaging and brand management. He joined the Wyndeham Group in 2009 and has been managing director of Rhapsody since 2012.

During this time he has overseen the repositioning of the business as a media production agency and worked closely with major publishers and brands to drive the change from print only to cross-platform print and mobile products.

“I think there’s been a recognition that clients need a print and digital strategy – to be able to fulfil that we set out that Rhapsody would be a curator and migrator of content, not a creator of content,” said Pipe.

“So where customers are looking to create or change their strategy – and they need the vehicles and skills to do that – we’ve grown those within Rhapsody. That’s been a very important and effective part of the recent past and the future going forward.”

He added: “My plan now is to continue within business, in either a strategic or consultancy role, but there is nothing planned specifically at this point in time.”

For the time being Pipe will work on a range of special projects within the Walstead Group, particularly focusing on Wyndeham and Europe.

“It’s no secret that Walstead are looking to continue to grow and to be more efficient and effective in what they do, both in print and non-print,” he said.

“We’re already somewhere down the line of Rhapsody being a more integral part of Wyndeham and the Walstead Group over the last year or 18 months, and that’s going to continue to expand.”

Walstead Group chief executive Paul Utting said: “Les has made a huge contribution to Rhapsody and has been a prominent figure in the pre-press sector for many years.

“He leaves the business very well positioned in what is a very fast-moving sector of our industry and I have personally enjoyed working with him. We wish him all the best for the future.”