PaperlinX regional president for the UK and Ireland Martin Fothergill said the Group's businesses, which comprise The Robert Horne Group, PaperCo, Howard Smith Paper and M6 Papers in the UK, all had their own identities and structure, as well as key areas of specialisation and customer bases.

"I feel all the businesses are able to trade successfully in the market while competing and offering their own distinctive style," he said. Fothergill's key objective was to have four successful businesses in the UK.

However, he said there would be some backroom synergies in areas that could be brought together such as utilities, fuel and insurance now the businesses were part of a large group.

Fothergill said new Howard Smith Paper chief executive Malcolm Lane-Ley was now settling in, following his appointment in July this year (PrintWeek, 19 July).

"It's early days, but I have no doubt he will be very successful."

Howard Smith has filled all but one of the positions of the high profile sales staff who left in July this year with internal promotions.

"We are very pleased we have been able to achieve that, it's a sign of having good people," he said.

Former managing director Fred Haines' post still had to be filled, and no decision had been made on that yet. He did confirm it was being progressed, and that the decision on the appointment would also be made by Lane-Ley.

Story by Andy Scott