The appointments were ratified at the charity’s recent AGM.
The duo take over from Jon Wright and James Povey respectively, who have stepped down having served the maximum tenure.
Phillips is COO at Paragon, the customer communications operation of Paragon Group, and has worked at the organisation for 17 years in increasingly senior roles.
He was promoted to COO earlier this year.
Phillips has been involved with the charity since 2017, was a judge for the Rising Stars, and became a trustee in 2020.
He told Printweek: “It’s a very proud appointment and an honour to support all the great work the charity does for the print community.”
Cole has spent her entire working life in the printing industry, starting out at Xerox in the 1980s and then moving on to OKI and then HP, where she spent 15 years working in marketing, training, and on its Dscoop EMEA event.
She is also currently working as a strategic consultant with the BPIF.
Cole, who has been a trustee for seven-and-a-half years, said she was honoured to take up the vice-chair position and urged industry companies to sign up for its support initiatives.
Printing Charity CEO Neil Lovell commented: “We at the charity are incredibly grateful for all the time and energy that Jon and James have given to us, firstly as members of our council and then as chair and vice chair.
“Their strategic guidance and support over the years have enabled the charity to be there for more people in our industry than ever before, whenever they need us. We owe them both a huge debt of gratitude for their unstinting commitment.”
Regarding the new appointees, Lovell said: “I’m delighted that David is stepping into the role of chair, and Julia as vice chair in this, her last year as a trustee.
“Both bring extensive knowledge and understanding of the print industry and the people who work within it, which will help us increase our ability to provide the best possible support and services to those who need it.”
Three new trustees have also been appointed: qualified solicitor Catherine Cook, health and social care expert Sam Hay, and Si Mathavan, who is a partner at an accountancy firm.
The Printing Charity’s board of trustees now comprises: Phillips, Cole, the three new trustees named above, plus Pauline Blake internal audit director at the Financial Times (honorary treasurer); Richard Bernstein compliance director at JM Finn; Louisa Bull national officer at Unite the Union; Andrew Neal chief people officer at Communisis; and Julia Palmer-Poucher, group production director at DMGT’s Harmsworth Quays Printing.
The charity is one of hundreds of charities waiting to hear whether another member of the royal family will replace the late Queen Elizabeth II as its patron.
The Printing Charity’s annual luncheon takes place on Thursday 23 November at Stationers’ Hall in London. Tickets are on sale now.
