The retail flyer, media inserts and quality catalogue printer's board originally consisted of chief executive Chris Ingram and chief operating officer Mike Newbould.

However, it has now appointed private equity veteran Richard Connell as chairman following an introduction by the Business Growth Fund (BGF) Talent Network.

Connell has worked for 3i, Invesco Asset Management and Montagu Private Equity and subsequently chaired several institutionally-backed companies, including Dignity, CVS, Mercury Pharma and Cory Environmental.

His appointment follows the announcement in July that York Mailing had secured a £10m investment from the BGF in return for a minority equity stake.

York Mailing chief executive Chris Ingram told PrintWeek: "This is something the BGF likes to see as part of their investment strategy but from the original shareholders point of view is an excellent way of adding significant strength to the board."

In addition, York Mailing has appointed Judith Donovan CBE as a non-executive director. Donovan is chair of the Royal Mail Strategic Mailing Partnership and a former vice-chair of Postwatch; she founded her own marketing agency in 1982 and grew it to over 50 staff and £12.5m turnover before selling to her management in 2000.

Ingram said: "I have known Judith Donovan for several years and hold her in very high regard as a leading DM operator."

He added that York Mailing did not intend to make any further board appointments.

Commenting on the group's growth strategy, which recently saw it acquire Lettershop Group, Ingram said: "We are always looking at any opportunities that we feel could benefit our customers across the group but have no specific targets at this point in time."