Business - Recruitment

Drytac Europe has announced the appointment of Douglas Jackson to the role of Operations Director with immediate effect.  In his new role, Douglas will be responsible for the management and control of Drytac Europe’s day-to-day business operations including purchasing, planning, and product development.
 
Douglas joins Drytac from USA-based ACCO brands where he held the positon of Director of Operations.  Prior to this role, Douglas was the President of Neschen GBC Graphic Films - a joint venture with ACCO Brands - which manufactured the Seal, Neschen, and GBC brands throughout the USA.

Douglas returns to the UK where he previously ran Seal’s manufacturing facility in Basildon, prior to moving to the USA.
 
On Douglas’s appointment, Hayden Kelley, Managing Director for Drytac Europe, comments: “We’re delighted that Douglas has joined our senior management team.  He brings a wealth of experience in the graphic films sector to Drytac, alongside proven management capabilities.”
 
Drytac will be exhibiting at the upcoming SGIA Expo on booth #753 and Douglas will be present at the event.  As well as showcasing Drytac’s latest solutions for the graphics market, the company will be looking to recruit quality international business partners to further boost the company’s global sales.
 
If you would like to arrange an appointment with Douglas at SGIA, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
 
For further information on Drytac and its leading range of films and adhesives, please visit www.drytac.co.uk.

As part of its continued expansion into the sign and display industry, Kevin Scanlan has joined Sydney Beaumont (Leeds) Ltd. Formerly of Paperlinx and Europoint, Kevin brings a wealth of experience to the business and will represent the company in an external sales capacity.

The appointment coincides with Sydney Beaumont being appointed as a MACtac self adhesive vinyl distributor. MACtac will compliment existing stocks held at Leeds together with a new range of sheet products from the industries leading brands such as Foamalite, Correx, Akyprint, Kapa and a range of aluminium composite sheets.

Kevin explains some of the reasons he decided to join Sydney Beaumont at this time: “I have worked the Yorkshire area for a number of years and have been aware of Sydney Beaumont’s excellent reputation. They have a great history and have been at the forefront of selling self adhesives since 1966. Now, as part of the Pyramid Display group of companies, I recognised a tremendous opportunity for Beaumont’s to expand utilising the stockholding and logistics of Pyramid to sell a much larger group of products to both existing and new customers. I’m excited to be in at the start of what I believe is a great opportunity for sustained growth at Sydney Beaumont.”

The economic recovery is being heralded in both national media and print industry magazines, with sign makers and print companies reporting that they are busier and more successful than ever. Such an environment breeds a strong desire amongst customers to ensure that the technology which is so critical to delivering that success can be relied on, day in and day out.

Roland DG has long been recognised as leading the industry in providing professional, tailored support services through RolandCare warranty packages, providing the reassurance to customers that in the unlikely event that they experience an issue with their printer they are fully covered. Customers under warranty also have the reassurance of an annual full service visit to ensure their machine is in tip top condition.

Mark Jones, Technical Operations Manager at Roland DG says: ‘Take up of RolandCare has grown considerably over the past few years as customers recognise it to be one of the most value-packed warranties in the industry. Our highly skilled engineers are trained by the people who design and build Roland machines, so no one knows our devices better. That’s why we are able to fix our machines first time, 98% of the time. The team is equipped with the very latest tools and use 100% genuine Roland parts. We offer guaranteed response times and cover all of mainland UK so whether you’re a sign maker in St Austell or a digital printer in Dundee, our team of engineers are on hand to keep your Roland machines printing and profitable.’

Mark continues: ‘Because of this success we are now looking for a highly-skilled field engineer to join our growing RolandCare team to service Roland customers in the south east of England.’

Based from home, the successful candidate will have a minimum five years’ experience in servicing printers, with a working knowledge of related software packages including CorelDraw and Adobe Illustrator. A knowledge of milling & engraving products or 3D printers would also be advantageous.

Mark comments: ‘We believe this new role is a great opportunity for a professional, friendly and experienced field service engineer to join a successful and expanding business at an exciting time in its development. We warmly welcome applications from right across the industry.’

For a detailed role profile (including benefits and requirements) and to apply, visit www.rolanddg.co.uk/company/careers/

Premium large format out of home company blowUP media UK has appointed Simon Russell, currently Group Account Director of Kinetic Worldwide, to be its new Head of Sales.

He replaces blowUP Sales Director Aimee McKay, who is leaving to lead Clear Channel’s STORM division.

Russell joined Kinetic ten years ago after four years with Carat Business, and has since worked closely with MEC, Maxus, AKA, and TeamUK. As Group Head, Russell took charge of the MEC team in 2009. He has played an instrumental role in overseeing innovative campaigns that have raised the profile of his clients’ brands and products.

Russell joins blowUP media during a period of outstanding growth, with revenues up by 25 per cent last year and market share now almost 45 per cent of the UK giant posters market. As one of the biggest providers of giant posters, blowUP has a premium national portfolio and works with a multitude of brands, which include Samsung, Heineken, EE, Virgin Media, Microsoft and First Great Western. He will take up his role in November.

Katrin Robertson, CEO of blowUP media, comments: “In the face of a rapidly-changing media landscape we have to ensure that premium large format out of home has a strong position within media plans. As well as driving sales, Simon will help us position blowUP media on the radar of many more clients and agencies.”

Simon Russell comments: “blowup media UK’s continued impressive growth and planned expansion programme to build upon its portfolio of premium large format sites makes this an extremely exciting time to be joining the company.”

Arthur Vanhoutte passes the baton to Akio Kotake & takes up new role as consultant for Mutoh group

Oostende, BELGIUM. Mutoh Belgium (www.mutoh.eu), a subsidiary of Mutoh Holdings Co. Ltd., Japan, announced its new Managing Director, Mr. Akio KOTAKE. Akio Kotake took over the responsibilities of Arthur VANHOUTTE, who has been leading Mutoh’s Belgian operation for the past 24 years. A. Vanhoutte was appointed as senior consultant for the Mutoh group.

As newly appointed Managing Director and General Manager of Mutoh Belgium nv, Akio Kotake is overseeing the sales, sales support, logistics, commercial & product marketing, product support and after-sales service activities for Mutoh wide format printing and sign cutting equipment in the Belgian operation’s sales area. Aged 58, A. Kotake joined the Mutoh Group in 2011 as General Manager International Management Division at Mutoh Holdings Co. Ltd, Japan. He has been involved in Mutoh’s European business since 2012 as Managing Director of Mutoh Deutschland GmbH. Holding a Bachelor degree in electronics engineering from Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan, Kotake has an extensive experience in international business. Before joining Mutoh, he occupied several senior roles in marketing & sales at Victor Company of Japan Ltd (JVC®), both in Japan and Europe.

Mr. Nobumasa HAYAKAWA, President and Representative Director of Mutoh Holdings Co. Ltd, comments: “I would like to express my sincere appreciation with deep respect to Mr. Arthur Vanhoutte for his great effort, devotion and achievement for 25 years since the foundation of Mutoh Belgium NV. He will now support the company as independent consultant to ensure the customer satisfaction under the new management. I would also like to welcome Mr. Akio Kotake as new Managing Director and General Manager of Mutoh Belgium, and expect him to contribute to the further growth of our business together with all the customers and the Mutoh Belgium team. Mutoh will continuously introduce competitive products and strengthen the partnership with our customers.  We highly appreciate Mr. Vanhoutte’s future support to the new team”.

Aged 65, Arthur Vanhoutte has been active in the international graphics sector for more than 43 years, having occupied several senior roles in manufacturing, purchasing, R&D, marketing and sales before his tenure at Mutoh. He joined Mutoh in 1990 and started Mutoh’s Belgian operation from ground up. The Belgian Mutoh division currently makes an annual turnover of € 35 million.

“Working for Mutoh has been exciting and challenging”, says Arthur Vanhoutte. “I am proud of what the Belgian team has achieved since the foundation of Mutoh Belgium nv in 1991. Keys to our success have always been our flexibility and our excellent customer service. Mutoh Belgium can also count on the support of a very loyal, professional and experienced authorised reseller network”, Vanhoutte continues. “In my new role as consultant, I look forward to assisting Mr. Kotake and the Mutoh Belgium management team. I shall also act as a consultant for the other Mutoh branches in Europe and for the Board of Directors of Mutoh Holdings Co. Ltd. in Japan”, Vanhoutte concludes.

Newly appointed Managing Director Akio Kotake comments : “It is an honour for me to be recognised with this new title and responsibility and to take up the baton as the successor of Arthur Vanhoutte.  Mutoh Belgium has solid foundations in place.  I can count on a committed and experienced team.  I look forward to leading the company to remain successful and to grow the business, with a strong focus on extending Mutoh Belgium’s existing long-term client and partner relationships.”

Stanford Marsh Group Graphics (SMGG), the commercial graphics division of Stanford Marsh Group, has appointed Bob Stevenson to boost the sales of consumables to the graphics and signage sectors. In his new role, Bob will be responsible for managing and boosting the sales of graphics consumables, inks and media within London and the South East of England.

Bob joined the company in June 2014 from Spandex where he was focused on selling wide format media and signage products. He is an experienced graphics sector professional having also worked at CWE Solutions and Perfect Colours selling printers, laminators, RIPs and consumables, again to the wide format print sector.

On joining SMGG, Bob says: “I’m really looking forward to using my considerable experience in the graphics sector to help SMGG grow its business. I am knowledgeable in both hardware and consumables sales – regardless of whether it’s UV, solvent or latex technology – and will be able to recommend the right media and inks to SMGG’s clients so they can realise the full potential of the solutions that they purchase.”

SMGG Director Adrian Painter adds: “Bob is a great addition to our team.  We aim to double our graphics/signage sector turnover in the next year and increase our share of what remains an exciting growth market. Bob’s appointment is key to this strategy.”

Additionally, the company has re-organised internal resources to better support the sales drive in the graphics sector.

As a leading independent solutions provider for the wide-format print sector, SMGG offers solutions from Canon, Epson, HP, Mimaki, Mutoh and Océ amongst others, alongside the associated consumables and finishing devices. The company, which employs around 100 staff, has its headquarters in Worcester, a flagship showroom in Bristol, alongside offices Derbyshire, South Wales and Scotland.

For more information on SMGG, please visit www.smgg.co.uk