John Murphy joined the management information systems (MIS) specialist as a pre-sales consultant to focus on third-party integration projects.
Murphy has a long track record, working in the printing industry for almost 30 years. For the past 18 he has been at Heidelberg UK, where he was a technical specialist and product manager.
“Almost all modern MIS installations are required to interface and integrate with various workflows such as web-to-print, pre-press, press and digital. I’m helping to advise on and configure these complicated connections,” said Murphy, who joined the company last month in the newly-created role.
“I'm taking over some of the responsibility of managing director Keith McMurtrie, who is heavily involved in areas such as JDF innovation. I'll help him with those kind of projects.
“Most of the deals we do have an element of integration, be it pre-press, accounts or couriering. Having a conventional print background I'm excited about learning more about digital and other technologies.”
Murphy added: “Integration is not so much the challenge – helping customers is, and my role is like that of a consultant.
“Multi-vendor systems can throw up issues and it's about building relations and working with other people in the industry.”
On new services and products Murphy said he was working on the HP Indigo interface and on a new ganging module that was so new it did not yet have a name.
McMurtrie said: “John has worked alongside me and the Tharstern team for over 15 years on various high-profile CIP4 projects and exhibitions.
“His appointment brings an extra dimension to our experienced and highly customer-focused staff as we continue to expand in the UK, US and in other parts of the world.”
Tharstern started more than 30 years ago, has a 700-strong client base across the globe and 7,000 users of its MIS and workflow systems.
Heidelberg and HP use Tharstern as a preferred partner for MIS, as well as Agfa, Fujifilm, Manroland and Esko.
Murphy said Tharstern is currently launching in North America with a couple of installations and added the 56-staff company is likely to take on more people to deal with business growth.
