Nigel Parsons has taken over as group managing director at Weir Holdings after being headhunted from PwC Consulting.

Weir founded three pre-press companies, including Weir Holdings, which is number 85 in the PrintWeek Top 500 and is now believed to have sales of 35m-40m since it acquired Brents 27m-turnover European imaging arm five years ago.

In the late 1960s Weir joined PDI in Leeds, which, according to a close source, is where he really got into colour separation and the pre-press side of the business in a big way.

In 1973 he formed Leeds-based Scan Kolor with Dick Sherwood. Then in 1983 he decided to go it alone and formed Data Colour, which was subsequently bought out by Wace.

But in 1992, Weir was one of the directors that exited following the controversial resignation of chief executive John Clegg and the appointment of his replacement, Trevor Grice.

Weir Technology was then created, later becoming known as Weir Holdings, comprising six companies across Europe employing 300 staff.

Story by Rachel Barnes