Lake, who joined the Rochester, Kent-based company in the newly created role on 1 September, will be responsible for project management across a number of markets and will co-ordinate the firm’s most complex projects.

Lake has previously worked in the litho pre-press sector and ran his own company, Sprint Scan, for 15 years. He has more recently overseen stand design and build at exhibitions and PressOn has tasked him with expanding the events and exhibitions sectors of its portfolio.

“At the moment PressOn's not doing any work on that front so I'm going to build that side of the business,” said Lake.

“With the knowledge I've gained over the past 10 years I'm able to fabricate anything using metal and timber. Combining that with my print experience puts me in a perfect position to help PressOn grow in that market.”

Managing director Andy Wilson added: “Nick is a really exciting addition to our growing team. His role is essential to achieving our forecast growth and strategic direction for the next three to five years. Our projects are getting more and more complex and his expertise will be invaluable.”

PressOn, which employs 25 people, has invested around £750,000 in new machinery throughout 2013 and 2014.

In the past few years the firm has completed projects for Paultons Park, American Apparel, Crossrail, The Ritz London and Kingston University. In July the firm wrapped one of the last remaining First World War warships in what it said was “one of its most challenging projects to date”.