News

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41. Keith Dalton (64) – Fujifilm Graphic Systems

Why Dalton’s rise reflects the transformation of Fujifilm from pre-press supplier to a digital print supplier, as well as its continued growth in the pre-press sector. As director of Fujifilm Graphic Systems UK, Dalton has led the environmental agenda, with half of all European installations of its Pro-T processless plate on these shores. His next challenge is the other hot topic of the day, digital. A strategic thinker, he’s well placed to use the next year or so to get up to speed with selling digital before bringing on Fuji’s big gun, the B2 inkjet Jet Press 720, with which he could cause his previous employer Heidelberg a serious headache. Outside of work he has a young family and acres of green grass to mow and keep him busy.

42. Elizabeth Allen (39) – Penguin Groups

If there’s one person UK book printers should be doing their best to please, it’s Allen. As group production director she has overall responsibility for an annual print spend that tops £85m. As if that wasn’t enough, in the past few years she has seen her remit expand to take in much more than print buying. In addition to heading up all of Penguin UK’s production operations, Allen’s role has grown to encompass the group’s global content management strategy. A keen runner and traveller, in the past year her job has taken her as far afield as the US, China, Slovakia, India and Australia. Described by UK colleagues as very supportive she increasingly finds herself engaging other Pearson companies to ensure that Penguin’s UK operations benefit fully from the group’s global buying and manufacturing activities.

43. John Bird (44) – Harmsworth Printing

Why As the man responsible for printing The Daily Mail and all of its publisher DMGT’s regional newspapers, John Bird rarely has a quiet moment. The past 12 months have been no different; the company’s £80m Didcot flexo site is now up and running and all of Harmsworth’s sites are capable of printing full colour. But the modest Bird is not one to shout about these achievements from the rooftops; he’s far happier just getting on with the job in hand. That said, he did recently tell PrintWeek that he was looking to add to the already substantial contract printing work which Harmsworth does for other publishers.

44. John Knight (43) – Anton Group

Why The Anton Group’s chief executive has built up a bit of a reputation for splashing the cash at major exhibitions and this year was no exception. At Drupa, the group spent more than £20m on kit, £10m of which was earmarked for three 12-colour Heidelberg XL105s while the remainder was spent on a five-year plate and CTP deal with Agfa. Not forgetting, of course, the £250,000 splurge on a Kodak NexPress. Knight believes that the only way to stay ahead of the game is to invest wisely in new technology. What also helps is having an inspirational figure at the helm and Knight is considered just that. His forward thinking, strategic mind plus bundles of energy has helped rocket the company from a three-man outfit in the 1970s to a £32m turnover operation.

45. Kevin Lyden (46) – UPM

Why It’s been yet another busy year for Lyden, managing director of the UK operation of Finnish paper giant UPM. In common with the rest of the industry, the group has been forced to increase prices in an attempt to offset the impact caused by the strong euro and the rising cost of raw materials – the likelihood of paper makers topping printer’s Xmas card lists dwindles by the day. An enigmatic speaker – Lyden is renowned for his speeches at the National Association of Paper Merchants’ annual dinner – in the past, he has warned that consolidation in the paper industry was not the answer. However, this year speculation grew that UPM could merge with rival paper manufacturer Stora Enso, so watch this space.

46. Tim Delahay (41) – DSTi Output

Why Healthier, trimmer and faster is how one colleague describes Delahay over the past year. The chief executive of Bristol-based DSTi Output has had a busy time both at work and at home. Delahay is now a married man and his wife’s expecting so it’s a double celebration. He’s also given up smoking but he did allow himself one treat before the wedding; the purchase of an Aston Martin DB9. Back in the big wide world of print, DSTi has enjoyed its most successful year to date with a number of contracts renewed and many improvements on the software and hardware front.

47. Lascelle Barrow (42) – Augustus Martin

Why Still going strong after all these years, Lascelle Barrow is known for his dedication, professionalism and focus on innovation. He co-founded the point-of-sale and outdoor specialist with current joint managing director Barrie Dix.
Barrow, who represents the UK on the FESPA Board, heads up with Dix one of Europe’s leading companies in the field with a turnover of more than £34m and staff roster of 300. With a keen eye for professionalism and commercialisation, Barrow is family man who enjoys time on the golf course as much as he does hurtling down the ski slopes.

48. Nick Dixon (52) – Howitt

Why Howitt chief executive Dixon steps into the top 50 after climbing four places from last year. Described as both dynamic and a serious entrepreneur, 2008 has seen the company move towards being more than just a printer, with Dixon firmly at the helm. He is said to believe that often half the problem is not having the right people to work with in a team. It’s a belief that has seen him build a seemingly strong balanced one at Howitt. It’s five years since he took joint-ownership of the company, and Dixon will no doubt be wanting to push further past the £40m turnover the company posted last year.

49. Luke Pigott (50) – Howard Hunt Group

Why A new entry last year, managing director Pigott has more than justified his ranking, having continued to oversee Howard Hunt Group’s rapid expansion over the past 12 months with an investment in new equipment and new workers, including the recruitment of 10 former employees of Quebecor World’s Corby site. Described by his staff as a people’s person, Pigott is a popular boss. He leads from the front and communicates daily with not only the management team but shop floor people as well, says one employee. At work he is incredibly energetic – like a whirlwind going through the office, but outside of the office environment Pigott is a devoted family man who dotes on his young daughter and still finds time to support his beloved Spurs.

50. Bob Steadman (NEW) – Guardian News and Media

Why Steadman stepped up to the role of director of production, distribution and sales at Guardian News and Media (GNM), when Joe Clark, formerly a Power 100 regular, moved on earlier this year. Clark was the man responsible for switching the Guardian to a Berliner format, so Steadman has some fairly large shoes to fill. His job now is to maintain the Guardian’s fight against dwindling readership in the printed newspaper sector, as well as increasing the organisation’s contract printing work. Steadman is a family man and keen sportsman who has been with GNM for just shy of 30 years. According to one colleague, his approachable style allows him to create friends as well as colleagues at all levels of business.