News

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51. Peter Morris (47) – Friedheim International

Why Being managing director of one of the UK’s largest finishing equipment suppliers, Morris is renowned for being a colourful character who has a heart on the sleeve love for the print industry. This infatuation comes through in the way he deals with customers, as one print finisher explains: He is very knowledgeable, and not just about his own equipment. He can advise on other kit, and generally anything in the print industry and is more than happy to do so. Friedheim continues to take on larger companies in the post-press manufacturing sector and Morris will expect to see sales continuing to flourish as more printers get hit by the added value bug and introduce more intricate finishing equipment.

52. Bachar Aintaoui (NEW) – MBA Group

Why Bachar Aintaoui, chairman of the MBA Group, is a new entrant to the Power 100, capping what’s been a successful year so far for the company. The MBA Group kick started 2008 by buying direct mail business SR Communications out of admin­istration and in doing so, boosted MBA’s turnover to around £40m. Aintaoui is seen by his colleagues as very knowledge­able, respectful and not afraid of investment. He recently helped secure a £6m contract with Simply Health with his hands on approach and is also, according to colleagues, a thoroughly nice guy.

53. Jim Todd (53) – Heidelberg

Why Heidelberg’s UK sales director is a keen am-dram practitioner and likes to spend time at murder mystery weekends apparently. One colleague is rather keen not to join him for fear of being one of his victims. But Todd is unlikely to be stabbing anyone in the back – the general industry view is that he is a very easy man to work with and has a constructive management style. He’s been in print for long enough to know that it’s not about driving short-term sales but taking a long-term outlook. And the signs are that this viewpoint is benefiting Heidelberg in the UK, with the press giant looking well placed to increase its market share.

54. Matt Bird (NEW) – Etrinsic

Why A new, but deserved entry for the managing director who claimed in May this year that no UK deal is too big for his company. Following a buyout by US print management group InnerWorkings, Bird is taking Etrinsic to new heights. Despite being ambitious and focused on detail, the managing director is a long suffering Birmingham City fan and enjoys a round of golf but he always finds time to relax with his family. Described by his colleagues as a people person, his altruistic side was underlined this year when he announced that 1% of Etrinsic’s profits would go to charity. Keith Walton, chief executive of Etrinsic, says: He’s a particularly good presenter, very personable and he’s really driven the company forward.

55. Alistair Gough (57) – PaperCo

Why As managing director of PaperCo, Gough has had a busy year overseeing the company’s transformation into a one-stop shop. The acquisitions of industrial packaging division Donington Packaging, in addition to 1st Class Packaging and Parkside Packaging, a merchant specialising in cartons and industrial packaging, added further strings to the company’s bow and bolstered its overall offer. Earlier this year, Gough replaced Ian George as president of The National Association of Paper Merchants (NAPM) and he has already outlined his plans for the organisation. Key to his vision is the continued provision of support to ensure the development of its member companies and their employees and his position at the NAPM should help him to see through these ambitions.

56. Tony Rafferty (62) – Printing.com

Why The seemingly unstoppable rise of Rafferty’s franchising business has showed no signs of abating over the past 12 months as it defied market trends to post double digit growth and international expansion. Setting out at the start of the last financial year with a goal of expanding printing.com’s franchise base, Rafferty has presided over the opening of 51 new franchises (taking the number in the UK and Ireland to 261) in addition to the successful launch of printing.com in France. His relentless work ethic is summed up by a colleague who jokes that in his spare time he hassles people. Rafferty is a keen skier and although he supports Everton, he’s not a bitter blue which eases working relations in the company’s Liverpool HQ.

57. Tom Johnson (54) – Newsfax International

Why The past 12 months were pretty quiet for Johnson and Newsfax. The only major development came in the form of the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), one of Newsfax’s many contract newspapers, which is getting an increased print run, not to mention profile, after being purchased by Rupert Murdoch. During the course of 2007, the company did manage to switch its sites, an enforced move due to the 2012 Olympics being built on top of part of its previous site, without breaking steam. On top of churning out the WSJ’s new improved print run, the company also prints Metro, thelondonpaper and the International Herald Tribune, making it one of the largest contract newspaper printers in the UK.

58. Eddie Williams (56) – Litho Supplies

Why It’s been a hectic start to the year for Litho Supplies’ sales director. The company’s reach in the consumables and kit distribution market was extended with two key acquisitions: Graphic Arts Equipment and the offset division of NCS Supplies. Following the purchases, Williams is understandably bullish about the future despite the tough market conditions (he reckons that for the remainder of 2008 the firm will enjoy an upward trend with an increase in sales of 22%). The company’s profits did suffer a dip last year but Williams reckons that the numbers would have been better if another of its acquisitions, Graphica Plus, had been included.

59. David Murray (55) – BemroseBooth

Why It’s been nearly two years since Murray was appointed managing director at BemroseBooth and in that time he’s had plenty on his plate. Tough market conditions haven’t made life easy for anyone in the sector and the company has been forced to make some tough decisions. Now there is even talk that BemroseBooth could be sold by its US parent Appleton, but Murray is experienced enough to guide the company through the rapidly evolving sector having previously been managing director at Communisis’ personalised products division.

60. Rupert Middleton (67) – Trinity Mirror

Why Over the past few years, Trinity Mirror’s group director of manufacturing has led his company on the road to full colour printing. Not only was the changeover completed at the company’s flagship Watford site, but also the rest of the company’s major sites. The move has enabled it to print the Mirror, Sunday Mirror and a vast array of regional titles completely in colour. Middleton is a stalwart of the printing industry, having first struck out in the 1980s when he saw at first hand the mass exodus away from Fleet Street. A colleague says of him: Rupert has been at the top of his game for the best part of 20 years and is without doubt an intelligent business man whose energy and desire to succeed never tires.