PRINT, MFP, SOFTWARE, SERVICES, DOCUMENT & CLOUD NEWS & INFORMATION FOR VARS, CONVERGED RESELLERS & MFP DEALERS www.printitreseller.uk ISSUE 131 · 2025 20 25 Royal Lancaster · December 2 SAVE THE DATE! Royal Lancaster Hotel London. 2nd Dec. 20 25 Royal Lancaster · December 2 Don’t forget to visit www.printitawards.co.uk and cast your vote in three vendor of the year categories. You’ve got until 5pm on Friday September 19 PRINT IT RESELLER MAGAZINE IN PRINT & ONLINE SINCE 2011
ECISOLUTIONS.COM/UK Your Business Connected Everyday Costs Have Real Margin Impacts Profit goes beyond supplies and service—it’s the in-between where margins are lost. We find the leaks across your whole business, and fix them for good.
PRINTITRESELLER.UK 04 Bulletin News from the channel 06 Bulletin Where do you take yours? 16 People A round-up of new hires 18 I couldn’t do my job without... Sam Cawthorne picks her favourite work tools 20 A decade in print Gareth Pearce shares his print experiences over the past decade 22 PrintIT Awards Entries are now closed but don’t forget to cast your votes! 24 One-to-one Hemel Thakrar, Pre‑Sales Manager at Kodak Alaris 26 Focus on: What’s New A round-up of recent product launches 29 Interview Gary Organ, Head of Device Technology at Fujifilm UK&I 34 Research A new era of print security 36 Careers Young talent powering the print industry 38 Remanufacturing Brother’s best-kept secret 40 VOX POP Print’s cloudy future – part one 46 Industry Insight Michael Bochmann, Chief Product & Technology Officer, DocuWare 48 View from the Channel Richard Taylor, Managing Director, XBM and Office Odyssey 50 60 seconds with… Abbie Jeffery, Strategic Partner Manager, PaperCut 3 COMMENT Entries for the 2025 edition of the PrintIT Awards are now closed and our judges are hard at work reviewing the entries and completing the tough task of determining the winners. The judging panel will determine the shortlists and overall winners on September 11 and we will announce the shortlists on September 15. Last issue, PrintIT Reseller invited leading print industry vendors to explore if the print sector is an attractive career choice for young professionals and explain how they are working to attract the next‑generation. This month, we hear from some of the sector’s emerging talent why they chose to enter the print industry (page 36). Also in this issue, Sam Cawthorne, Marketing Communications Lead at Kyocera Document Solutions, picks the work tools she uses every day and couldn’t do her job without (page 18). This month’s Q&A is with Richard Taylor, Managing Director, XBM and Office Odyssey, and PITR spent 60 seconds with Abbie Jeffery, Strategic Partner Manager, PaperCut Software. If you’ve got any news about your business to share, would like to be included on our monthly VOX POP panel, have a compelling business success story or simply wish to comment on any industry issues, please get in touch with me at: [email protected] Michelle Ryder, Editor Editor’s Comment Register online To receive your regular FREE printed copy of PrintIT Reseller Magazine simply fill in our online registration form at www.printitreseller.uk/register Read PrintIT Reseller online at: www.printitreseller.uk Join us : Follow us @print-it-reseller-magazine PRINT IT RESELLER MAGAZINE IN PRINT & ONLINE SINCE 2011 PrintIT Reseller is published by Kingswood Media Ltd., 7 Amherst House, 22 London Road, Sevenoaks TN13 2BT • Tel: 01732 759725 Email: [email protected] www.printitreseller.uk No part of PrintIT Reseller can be reproduced without prior written permission of the publisher. ©2025 Kingswood Media Ltd. 2025 ISSUE 131 printitreseller.uk If you no longer wish to receive PrintIT Reseller magazine please email your details to [email protected] Group Editor: James Goulding 07803 087228 · [email protected] Editor: Michelle Ryder 01732 759725 · [email protected] Publishing Director, Social Media and Web Editor: Neil Trim 01732 759725 · [email protected] Advertising Director: Ethan White 01732 759725 · [email protected] Account Manager: Jeff Root 07976 950285 · [email protected] Designer: Brian Cloke 07484 288189 · [email protected] Issue 131 ISSN 2055-3110 (Print) ISSN 2055-3129 (Online)
01732 759725 4 CISOs anticipate surge in cyber-attacks 98% of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) expect a surge in cyber-attacks over the next three years as organisations face an increasingly complex and AI-driven digital threat landscape. This is according to new research conducted among 300 CISOs, chief information officers (CIOs), and senior IT professionals by CSC. The report: CISO Outlook 2025: Navigating Evolving Domain-Based Threats in an Era of AI and Tightening Regulation, names cybersquatting, domain and DNS hijacking, and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks as the top three global cyber threats in 2024. AI-powered domain generation algorithms (DGAs) are increasingly worrisome, with 87% of CISOs identifying them as a direct threat. Additionally, 97% of respondents voiced concerns about the potential risks associated with granting third-party AI systems access to company data, underscoring the critical need for robust AI governance frameworks. Despite these escalating concerns, only 7% of CISOs expressed being very confident in their ability to mitigate domain-based attacks, and just 22% believe they have the right tools in place. www.cscglobal.com UK businesses at risk from cybersecurity neglect Ricoh’s 2025 UK Digital Maturity Survey, which gathered insights from over 570 business professionals from across the UK, found that over half (56%) of UK businesses say employees lack basic cybersecurity awareness. The report, specifically designed to outline the state of UK businesses’ current levels of digital adoption and preparedness for the future, also found that significant gaps remain in digital infrastructure and hybrid working environments. Half of UK organisations still rely on manual or paper-based processes, while a third struggle to integrate technology into daily tasks. One in five have yet to adopt cloud technologies, and only half report having strong digital tools to support collaboration, while a quarter already say their hybrid workspaces need rethinking. Chris Hopton, CEO of Ricoh UK and Northern Europe, said: “Our research shows there is a clear reality gap holding back growth for the UK. These gaps not only limit efficiency and agility, but they also expose organisations to increasing levels of risk. Recent and well-documented cyber-attacks across the UK have demonstrated the devastating impact of weak digital infrastructure, with public services, healthcare providers, and businesses alike suffering major operational disruption.” www.ricoh.co.uk BULLETIN UK office workers dismiss printer cyber security threat According to a recent pan-European survey of 11,000 office employees, including 1,000 in the UK, conducted by Sharp Europe, printers continue to pose a significant and often overlooked cyber security risk to businesses in the UK. The survey reveals that despite the growing concern over cyber threats, many businesses are failing to secure critical endpoints like printers and MFPs or provide sufficient training to employees, leaving organisations vulnerable to data breaches and cyber-attacks. Nearly three in ten (29%) of UK businesses have no specific IT security measures in place to cover printers and just 8% of employees see MFPs as the greatest IT security threat in the office. 28% of respondents admit to printing files sent via email from home on work printers, while 21% print files downloaded from nonwork related websites without considering the associated risks. Only 18% of employees are aware that leaving printouts in MFP output trays can present significant cyber security threats. www.sharp.eu PrintIT Reseller and Technology Reseller Golf Society The third outing this year took place at the Walmley Golf Club on July 10. The winners on the day include: Nearest the Pimms – Scott Seddon, ThinPrint Longest Drive – Richard Knight, Get Crisp Nearest the Pin on a Par 3 – Gary Stevens, Lexmark Nearest the Pin in Two on a Par 4 – Paul Taylor, Voiceflex Team Prize – Team 4: Dwayne Cowans and Gary Stevens, Lexmark, Scott Seddon, ThinPrint and Jonathan Sheridan, Converged Comms Overall Winner on the Day with 40 points – Dwayne Cowans, Lexmark The final outing of the year will take place on September 18 at Pavenham Park Golf Club. If you would like to join the 30 people already booked, please contact one of the team. 2 0 2 5 UK IT leaders shift cloud strategy More than half of UK IT decision-makers currently using public or hybrid models say they are planning to move away from US-based cloud providers – citing growing concerns around data sovereignty (95%) and data residency (93%), according to new research commissioned by Asanti. The findings reveal the increasing influence of global politics on IT infrastructure decisions, with 52% of those surveyed saying they’re taking strategic steps to reduce their organisation’s exposure to US cloud providers. In addition, 45% of those surveyed, currently using US public cloud platforms, confirmed that they plan to actively limit their data’s exposure to US jurisdiction in light of recent political developments. https://asanti.com BULLETIN
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01732 759725 6 BULLETIN We’re all about championing print at PrintIT Reseller, so don’t forget to get your camera out and send me a pix of yourself reading our magazine in the most unusual, far-flung spot you can find, and you could be featured in our next issue! In June, we spent two days in London at the fabulous Home Grown Club, where we welcomed a number of the industry’s leading vendors who joined us for our exclusive Director’s Cut video series. Much was discussed and explored across the two days, and we’re excited to release the recordings over the next couple of months. Naturally, our interviewees took time out on the day to read the latest issue. Just before the cameras started rolling, Mark Asbridge, Head of Business Consultancy at MyQ took the opportunity to quiz me about one of the stories I'd written! Hemel Thakrar, Pre-Sales Manager at Kodak Alaris found a quiet corner to check out the latest channel news Deborah Hawkins, Group Director Workplace Team at Keypoint Intelligence discovered the hidden gem at the Home Grown Club – a classic red telephone box which doubled up as the perfect spot to read PITR in peace! Where do you take yours?
PRINTITRESELLER.UK 7 BULLETIN (l-r) Rob Webb, Marketing Manager and Lee Manning, CEO, FUTERA, pictured reading the FUTERA cover story in PITR, just before popping the champagne! (l-r) While Tom Daly, Deansgate Media took care of the technical side, Andy Bryant, Sales Director EMEA at Vasion spent his time wisely We’re delighted that so many of our readers are taking on the ‘Where do you take yours?’ challenge. We want to see where you take your issue, so keep the pictures coming! Please send your pix to me at [email protected] It was a super-sunny day in London and Nick Taylor, Head of Office Print Sales at Epson, enjoyed reading his issue in the garden terrace
01732 759725 8 Golf day raises over £6,000 for Rainbow Hub An annual charity golf day in Lancashire has raised £6,100 for Rainbow Hub in Mawdesley. The event was organised by Bamber Bridgebased Evolve Document Solutions in partnership with Preston-based Optimum Signs at Ashton and Lea Golf Club. More than 100 golfers from Lancashire businesses took part in a day of competitive golf, networking and fundraising. Now in its sixth year, the charity tournament has raised over £30,000 for local causes in total. Last year’s event raised £5,571 and Rainbow Hub, which supports children with physical and neurological disabilities, returned as the 2025 beneficiary. Daniel Maddox, Managing Director of Evolve Document Solutions, said: “It was amazing to see so many familiar and new faces out on the course. Everyone dug deep and really got behind the cause - it means a lot to us and to Rainbow Hub. “We’re also really grateful to Ashton and Lea Golf Club for hosting us again this year. The team there always go above and beyond to make sure everything runs smoothly, and it’s a brilliant setting for the day.” The event featured a team competition, with prizes awarded to the top three teams, as well as individual honours for longest drive and nearest the pin. Guests also participated in a charity auction and raffle, with sports memorabilia and donated prizes helping to boost the fundraising total. Emma Parish, Rainbow Hub Corporate Relations and Events Manager, added: “We can’t thank Evolve Document Solutions and Optimum Signs enough for choosing Rainbow Hub as this year’s beneficiary and for putting on such a fantastic event. The atmosphere, generosity and effort from everyone involved were truly uplifting. Events like this don’t just raise money - they raise awareness and they show the families that the business community is right behind them.” www.evolvedocumentsolutions.co.uk BNP Paribas recognises Vision Vision has been awarded the BNP Paribas Office Equipment Introducer of the Year. In a statement the company said: “Collaborating with BNP Paribas has enabled us to support our customers with the financial solutions they need to evolve and thrive through workplace technology. We’re proud to receive this recognition from one of the most respected names in the financial services industry, so thank you to BNP Paribas, and to our dedicated team here at Vision whose professionalism and focus on excellence make achievements like this possible.” www.visionplc.co.uk BULLETIN Carbon wins Epson award Aberdeen-based Carbon has been recognised with a prestigious award from Epson for securing the largest and most environmentally sustainable print service deal in the UK. The award recognises Carbon’s successful rollout of Epson’s heat-free printing technology in 2024-25. Ryan Green, Digital Services Director at Carbon, said: “We’re proud to be recognised by Epson for our commitment to sustainable innovation. Our goal is to help businesses modernise their operations while reducing their impact on the environment. This accolade validates the incredible work our team has done to bring more energy-efficient, cost-effective print and digital solutions to clients across the UK.” Over the past fiscal year, Carbon has completed more than 1,300 installations, welcomed 132 new clients and secured major contracts with organisations including Peterson’s, University of Aberdeen, Albert Bartlett, Px Group, St Andrews Links Trust, NWH Group, Brimmond, Houston Bottling & Co-Pack, Stork, and Sentinol Marine. www.carbon-group.co.uk Xeretec acquires First Copy Corporation Xeretec has acquired long-standing Xerox concessionaire, First Copy Corporation Ltd. The company said that the acquisition marks a new chapter for First Copy and its customers. With the financial strength, scale and long-term commitment of Xeretec, and the ongoing support of Xerox, customers can expect enduring partnerships, innovative solutions, and the same trusted local service they’ve always known. Steve Hawkins, CEO of Xeretec said: “First Copy has built its reputation on trusted relationships and dedicated local service. We’re proud to carry that forward – while introducing the added strength of Xeretec’s broader offering.” Xeretec’s acquisition of First Copy further strengthens its market position and enhances its reach, reinforcing its place as one of the largest Xerox partners in Europe. Xeretec is Xerox’s leading partner for production print in the UK which brings significant added value to First Copy’s high-end commercial print customers. “What sets us apart in production print is our ability to deliver far more than just the hardware,” Hawkins added. “We provide intelligent, joinedup solutions that optimise every stage of the print process – from pre-press workflows through to advanced finishing. We understand the critical role this technology plays in our customers’ operations and are committed to exceeding expectations every step of the way.” www.xeretec.co.uk Steve Hawkins Organisers and competitors at the Evolve golf day
KYOCERA Document Solutions (UK) Limited Award winning Kyocera Cloud Print and Scan. Kyocera’s cloud based solution empowers agile workplaces and hybrid workers to print from multiple locations using Print&Follow™ and scan directly to the cloud. As well as reducing obstacles to productivity, Kyocera Cloud Print and Scan helps businesses control their print costs by eliminating the costs and hassle of managing your on-premises print servers while allowing you to assign group print policies to company users, improving their print behaviour and better managing print costs. Learn more online with the QR code or by visiting kyoceradocumentsolutions.co.uk/kcps DISCOVER MORE
01732 759725 10 BULLETIN Aurora opens new Warrington operation Aurora Managed Services has opened a new Warrington operation, an investment to grow the business and customer base in the North region. Located near the junction of the key regional motorways and several major cities, the new Warrington office will act as a regional hub for the Northwest operations, ensuring local customers are supported by locally based account managers. Simon Beveridge has been appointed Regional Sales Director. In his new role he will lead sales operations across the North of the UK, driving the workplace managed services salesforce and growing the Aurora presence. Aurora’s Group Sales Director, Paul Rylands said: “Simon is a fantastic leader and brings great expertise and experience to Aurora. He has over a decade of proven success leading sales operations and understands exactly what customers need from their managed services. I know from working alongside Simon in previous roles that he’s an energetic and inspiring person to have in a business, he will inspire our people and help us drive the Aurora business forward.” Beveridge added: “I’m genuinely excited to be joining Aurora at such a pivotal time. The business has huge potential, with a strong reputation, a broad and innovative service portfolio, and a team full of passionate and talented individuals. I’m especially looking forward to reconnecting with some former colleagues and getting to know the new faces across the organisation. There’s a real sense of energy and ambition here, and I’m thrilled to be part of it. It’s great to be joining a business with the right mix of expertise, partnerships, and backing to really make an impact in the managed services space. I’m very happy to be on this journey and can’t wait to get started.” www.aurora.co.uk XBM named Epson reseller of the year Epson has given XBM its Reseller of the Year award for 2024/5, for the third year in a row. An Epson Diamond Partner, XBM is the OEM’s number 1 UK reseller by volume and value. XBM Sales Director, Simon Wootton received the award from Epson UK’s Office Print Division Head of Sales, Nick Taylor. Delivering the award to the team at XBM’s Head Office in Leeds, Wootton said: “We have immense pride in being Epson Reseller of the Year for the third year in a row. We bought into Epson’s sustainability goals at a time when the technology was seen as disruptive, but it is now over 70% of everything we supply, and we can testify that the technology and the underlying sustainability message have come to dominate the conversations we have with our prospects and clients.” www.xbmltd.com Flotek Group completes 14th deal Flotek Group has strengthened its cloud infrastructure team with the acquisition of Plymouth-based Microshade Business Consultants, enhancing IT support and cybersecurity services for local councils across the UK. This is the 14th deal completed by the company. Microshade operates its cloud remote desktop service at the southwest datacentre in Plymouth, where Flotek already maintains a regional office. This acquisition will allow Flotek to provide local IT support and cybersecurity services to local councils across the country. Additionally, Flotek has been collaborating with Microshade to develop its own private application hosting service, helping businesses move traditional onpremise software to a private cloud environment, thereby eliminating the need for onsite servers. Flotek sees significant opportunities in the local council sector, where it already has a substantial share, and aims to drive innovation into other vertical sectors such as accounting and legal. Jay Ball, CEO of Flotek Group said: “We’ve had the pleasure of working with the Microshade team for over three years, collaborating on various projects. During the acquisition process, Stuart Wilbur, the founder, sadly passed away. Stuart’s vision was to bring advanced technology to the parish council sector, a vision we wholeheartedly share and are committed to continuing. We see tremendous growth potential in hosting our customers’ existing server-based applications in our private datacentre technology. This complements our existing Microsoft Azure technology offering, as both solutions have their unique advantages in the market.” The Microshade team will form the new cloud infrastructure team at Flotek, continuing to deliver specialist cloud technology utilising existing datacentre relationships and security positions. Microshade, a Microsoft Cloud Partner, will be fully integrated into Flotek over the next 12 months. www.flotek.io
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01732 759725 12 AURELIUS to acquire Exertis UK&I BULLETIN Strategic collaboration TD SYNNEX has formed a strategic collaboration with Cordon Group, a global leader in electronics lifecycle services, and its affiliate SLS (Second Life Solutions), an accredited lifecycle service provider. This collaboration marks a significant expansion of the distie’s Renew program, broadening its lifecycle portfolio to incorporate trade-in offerings for Windows laptops, gaming consoles, and other IT equipment, complementing existing mobile device services. The TD SYNNEX Renew program will now incorporate a widened range of circular IT services, including certified data wipe services, IT asset disposition (ITAD), refurbishment, technical repair, and onsite in-custody services. Janis Kemers, Vice President, Services, Endpoint Solutions, Europe at TD SYNNEX, said: “We are excited to offer our resellers and vendors an expanded suite of lifecycle services that not only enhance their business opportunities but also contribute to a more sustainable future. Our partnership with Cordon Group exemplifies our commitment to sustainability and innovation in the IT ecosystem.” https://uk.tdsynnex.com TD SYNNEX honoured by Lenovo TD SYNNEX has been recognised globally and regionally by Lenovo with awards honouring its sustainability commitments and the strength of its business partnership in the US, the UK and Ireland. Most notably, TD SYNNEX earned the 2025 Global Partner of the Year for Sustainability Award for the second consecutive year, celebrating the company’s ability to drive sustainable progress by aligning with global business operations. In addition to the global award, TD SYNNEX was named EMEA Outstanding Partner of the Year and received the Outstanding Climate Action Award at the 2025 Lenovo 360 Circle Summit for its dedication to creating a more sustainable future through innovation and partnership. The Lenovo 360 Circle initiative brings together Lenovo partners to share corporate citizenship goals, capitalise on emerging sustainability market trends and collaborate on ways to integrate sustainability into their operations and supply chains. “To have been named as Lenovo’s UK&I Distributor of the Year for the second year in succession is a remarkable achievement,” said Simon Bennett, Managing Director, Advanced Solutions, UK&I at TD SYNNEX. “Our teams work tirelessly to provide high levels of service and support, enable partners to maximise their Lenovo sales, and discover new solutions in fast-growing areas of the market, such as AI and cybersecurity. All this makes TD SYNNEX the home of Lenovo in the UK&I channel – the only distribution partner able to offer the full portfolio, from the pocket to the cloud, backed with full services, support, and fulfilment capabilities.” https://uk.tdsynnex.com DCC has reached an agreement with AURELIUS to sell Exertis IT (Info Tech businesses in UK and Ireland), subject to regulatory approval. Businesses in scope comprise Exertis UK business and consumer, Hypertec, Exertis Supplies, Exertis Ireland, Macro EV, Exertis Supply Chain Services, MTR and Ztorm. This deal forms part of DCC’s strategic review of its technology division, as announced in November 2024. Tim Griffin, CEO at Exertis IT said: “We are delighted to have found new owners who are committed to accelerating our growth, and that of our partners through dedicated focus and investment. I firmly believe this sale positions Exertis IT for long-term success and provides greater opportunities for our vendors, customers and our people. It’s business as usual for us providing an exceptional portfolio and industry-leading operations.” The transaction is expected to complete in the fourth quarter of this calendar year, subject to regulatory clearance and DCC remains firmly committed to supporting the Exertis IT businesses during this time, ensuring a successful transition to the new owner. www.exertis.co.uk Simon Bennett Tim Griffin boxxe acquires CAE Technology Services IT services and solutions provider boxxe, has announced the acquisition of CAE Technology Services, a move that accelerates its strategy in the corporate market. CAE is a Cisco Tier One Gold Partner and a Microsoft Tier One Cloud Solution Provider (CSP). In addition to its presence in the private sector, CAE has a strong customer base in the public sector, particularly within healthcare and education, that will benefit from the additional framework access and public sector expertise that boxxe provides. Phil Doye, boxxe CEO said: “I have followed CAE for many years and continue to be impressed by the organisation’s market‑leading practices in networking, security and cloud infrastructure. CAE sets itself apart from the competition with its focus on customer outcomes driven by innovative solutions and managed services. CAE Labs is a great example of this, adding in-house software development capability to enable customers to further transform their IT environments. boxxe has to deliver technology solutions that solve critical business challenges and propel our customers forward. This strategic acquisition enables us to do this more effectively. boxxe’s scale and broad portfolio of products and solutions will also bring greater value and relevance to CAE’s many customers.” https://boxxe.com Phil Doye
PRINTITRESELLER.UK 13 BULLETIN Global technology partnership Umango has announced a new global technology partnership with FUJIFILM Business Innovation. The collaboration brings Umango’s advanced embedded document automation capabilities to Fujifilm’s range of multifunction devices. Through this partnership, Umango will deliver seamless, panel-based document capture to Fujifilm devices, enabling intelligent document workflows with OCR, AI-driven data extraction, browser-based validation, and flexible export options – all accessible directly from the device. “This is a major step forward for Umango and our global reseller network,” said Andrew Wade, Global Channel Manager at Umango. “Fujifilm’s next-generation hardware, paired with our intelligent software, creates a compelling solution that solves real-world business challenges, delivering speed, accuracy, and automation where documents originate.” www.printandcopycontrol.com/umango Growth for DocuWare DocuWare continues to invest in both its cloud and on-premise offerings, ensuring a consistent experience and driving steady growth across both platforms. FY24 was a year of significant growth - cloud revenue increased YOY by 25%, with global revenue growing at 16% despite political and economic uncertainties. Customer numbers surged, with over 3,000 new customers joining worldwide. Approximately 2,800 of these new customers chose cloud solutions, demonstrating the clear preference for flexible and scalable cloud-based ECM. DocuWare now serves well over 20,000 customers globally. CEO Dr Michael Berger said: “Our‑exceptional FY24 performance validates our vision, our product strength and our commitment to innovation in the ECM space. We’ve anticipated the market’s evolving needs and we’ve invested strategically to deliver cuttingedge technology that empowers businesses to thrive.” https://start.docuware.com Konica Minolta partners with Cancer Research UK Konica Minolta has announced a new partnership with Cancer Research UK. Employees voted unanimously to support the charity and will participate in an extensive programme of fundraising, awareness and volunteering activities throughout the next 12 months. The company has kick-started its programme of events with members of the senior management team joining other employees for a 20km walk around London landmarks, and another taking in the sights of the historic city of Chester. Next up is a sponsored bike ride that will depart from Konica Minolta’s CEC (Client Engagement Centre), in Houghton Regis. In addition to actively participating, employees will also be able to use their annual volunteering day to help out in their local communities, such as supporting Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, Shine Night Walk, Big Hike and Pretty Muddy events. www.konicaminolta.co.uk Tech talent on tap The Channel Recruiter and Nebula Global Services have joined forces to launch ‘Tech Talent on Tap’, a new global resourcing solution tailored for the technology channel. This strategic collaboration delivers a dynamic, results-driven approach to technical talent acquisition, offering VARs, MSPs, GSIs, and channel organisations seamless ondemand access to world-class technical professionals. Ross Teague, Founder and CEO of Nebula Global Services said: “As pioneers in our respective domains, this strategic alliance sets a bold new benchmark for the global technology channel. Together, we’re launching Tech Talent on Tap, a game-changing resourcing solution engineered to empower VARs, MSPs, GSIs, and channel firms with instant access to elite technical talent across the globe.” Zoe Chatley, Founder and CEO, The Channel Recruiter added: ”As the IT channel grows and evolves, we wanted to make sure we evolve with it. We are excited that Nebula Global Services has agreed to partner with us and launch Tech Talent on Tap. Our joint global resource-as-a-service (Raas) offers the IT channel a service like no other. Offering quick, on-demand technical resource and people solutions.” This global RaaS service is both vendor- and technology-agnostic, completely focused on the desired business outcome of the channel partner and their end-user client. www.nebulaglobalservices.com, www.thechannelrecruiter.co.uk Ross Teague Xerox completes Lexmark acquisition Xerox has completed its acquisition of Lexmark from Ninestar Corporation, PAG Asia Capital, and Shanghai Shouda Investment Centre. The transaction, valued at $1.5 billion inclusive of net debt and assumed liabilities, marks a significant milestone in the company’s strategic transformation and reinforces its commitment to delivering innovative workplace solutions in an evolving hybrid environment. “We’ve long admired Lexmark’s strong print and managed print services reputation, robust client and partner base, and global presence. Over the years, we’ve built a collaborative partnership, and today, we take our business to the next level,” said Steve Bandrowczak, Chief Executive Officer at Xerox. “Together, we will drive greater success for our clients and partners through a broader portfolio of print and managed print solutions, furthering our reinvention and solidifying our path toward longterm profitable growth.” “Today is a pivotal moment for Xerox and Lexmark as these two great companies combine to shape the future of the printing industry,” said Allen Waugerman, who is stepping down as Lexmark President and Chief Executive Officer with this close. “Leading Lexmark has been an incredible opportunity, and I look forward to the accomplishments that lie ahead.” www.xerox.com Steve Bandrowczak
35 Years +
01732 759725 16 New hire at FUTERA FUTERA has welcomed James Batten to the team as its new Field Service Engineer. Batten brings many years of experience in the MPS field, and the company said his technical skills and expertise make him a valuable asset to its team and clients. www.futera.co.uk BULLETIN : PEOPLE SYNAXON adds to UK team SYNAXON has appointed Samuel Chatterton as Account Manager. Chatterton brings four years of experience working in account management and support roles within the distribution and ICT sector to SYNAXON UK. He will be responsible for identifying and engaging with potential new partners and enticing more reseller businesses to make use of the SYNAXON Hub distribution service and the SYNAXON Marketplace portal to access stock and availability information, and place orders. Mike Barron, UK Managing Director, SYNAXON, said: “Sales through the SYNAXON Hub and order placement through our marketplace portal have been growing strongly and with Sam focusing on promoting the benefits of these resources, we fully expect that growth to continue and accelerate. By making use of SYNAXON Hub to source best-selling products at marketleading prices, smaller partners can genuinely compete for and win new business. And with the personalised account management we provide to all our customers, they can be sure of getting a great level of service when they purchase products through us, regardless of what platform they use.” Chatterton joins SYNAXON’s UKbased team that provides personal support and account management to partners and ensures they can take full advantage of all SYNAXON’s services. https://synaxon-services.com BIXOLON Europe names new MD BIXOLON Europe GmbH has appointed Paul Kim as its new Managing Director. With over 22 years of global sales experience within the technology and printing solutions industry at BIXOLON, he joins the European team from BIXOLON America Inc. where he held the role of President, leading significant business transformation initiatives across the US. In this new role, Kim will be overseeing BIXOLON’s ongoing operations, sales, technical and marketing activities across the panEuropean market. “My extensive previous experience at BIXOLON has provided me with a global sales overview to which I can bring forward to the European market to better understand our customers, partners and colleagues,” he said. “BIXOLON as a company holds more value than the market often recognises. My goal is to help more customers experience the true power of BIXOLON’s value – through trusted service, strong relationships and solutions that truly meet their ongoing needs. All while building a workplace which helps the team to balance pride and support for both their working and personal lives.” www.BixolonEU.com Paul Kim Samuel Chatterton PaperCut has appointed two print industry experts to a newly created role. Ian Dixon and Alexander Rollo join as Technical Success Managers. They will focus on growing PaperCut’s portfolio across its channel, partners and teams, as well as being responsible for guiding customers and partners to help them select the most appropriate solution and service for their evolving print environment. www.papercut.com Ian Dixon Alexander Rollo PaperCut future fit with expanded team MPSA announces new leadership team The Managed Print Services Association has announced its new Executive Committee and Board of Directors. The newly elected MPSA executive committee includes President: Eric Crump – Director, FollowMe Print Team, Ringdale; Vice President: Tanya Ross – Director, Sales & Marketing, footPRINT Managed Services; Treasurer: Mark Hart – Vice President of Business Development, ACDI; and Secretary: Robin Fonck – Director of Strategic Technology, Great America Financial Services. The newly elected board of directors comprises Laura Blackmer – President, Dealer Sales, Konica Minolta Business Solutions USA; Anthony Chen – Senior Vice President, USA West & Europe, In Time Tec; Anthony DelGrosso – Regional Vice President and General Manager, Milner Inc; Kevin DeYoung – Special Projects, AD Solutions and General Manager, Qualpath; Mitchell Filby – Managing Director, First Rock Consulting; Deborah Hawkins – Group Director Workplace, Keypoint Intelligence; Russ Kromminga – Director of Technical Services, Century Business Technologies; Robert Palmer – Research Vice President, IDC; Dominic Pontrelli – President, Pontrelli Marketing; and Ian Silvester – General Manager, EKM Global. https://yourmpsa.org The Print Charity, a national organisation with King Charles III as its patron, has chosen Konica Minolta Sales Development Representative, Alex Jordan as a recipient of its Rising Star Awards 2025. Jordan joined Konica Minolta in July 2024. Since joining, he has been supported by the company with a development plan targeted at developing an in-depth knowledge of print solutions and their applications, account management, demonstration training, and gaining industry insight through visiting print rooms and workshops throughout the UK. Commenting on his award win, he said: “I am honoured to receive this prestigious award from The Print Charity at the start of what I hope to be a long career in the industry.” www.theprintingcharity.org.uk Alex Jordan Alex Jordan receives rising star award
01732 759725 18 Spotify This is probably my favourite app personally – think kitchen disco and car karaoke – and professionally. At work, when I need to get in the zone or drown out our sales teams on a call day to meet a deadline, Spotify is a life saver. Although just putting cans on is often enough to say: “do not disturb.” It’s also a great source of inspiration for an injection of creativity with Talking Heads, New Order, Japan or Depeche Mode typically being my go-to sounds. We are also using Spotify at Kyocera and have just released a playlist to support our #PrintForever campaign. Last but by no means least, colleagues Not just those in marketing, the wider Kyocera business who support the day to day needs of the department or our extended teams at our creative or PR agency who I rely on to pick up the pieces when the workload gets tough. There is one more person who I could not do my job without and that is my ‘Little Ray of Sunshine’, aka Neil Major who looks after digital content in my comms team – he has really come into his own in the last 12 months, taking on wider responsibilities and having my back when I need support to handle competing deadlines or priority projects. Thank you, Neil. A5 notepad and pen I love the printed page. Whether that’s the latest edition of my favourite magazine, a print-out of a new article for copy editing or an artwork proof needing approval. I always spot more things on paper than I do on screen. I think the mind works faster than technology allows, especially when trying to structure text or outline visuals. This is why I rely on a notepad and pen for all of those things and more – like to do lists, reminders and sketches to communicate ideas for capturing those eureka moments that only materialise when you’re out and about. My notepads tend to be A5, I like Moleskine or ones with arty graphics. At the moment, I’m using a Kyocera freebie Hachi notepad and bamboo pen – made from recycled materials and recyclable in line with Kyocera’s 3R environmental principles. Adobe Creative Cloud Not a day goes by without an Adobe app. Creative Suite is a modern-day anvil used by wannabe creatives like me to forge content – everything from social posts to adverts, brochures and asset packs for our channel partners. I rely on Photoshop as my go-to, but dip into Illustrator and InDesign as the job requires. I am a Premiere novice learning to produce some of Kyocera’s Skoops, shorts and segments. I also use Stock, Express and Acrobat. But there’s much more in the Kyocera tech stack that is vital to the job at hand from MS365, CRM and email marketing systems to a new proposal and document management platform that will automate onboarding processes. Morning coffee Left to my own devices I would burn the midnight oil and wake up around 10am, so I need that bean to cup caffeine hit in the morning. When working from home I make it my mission to walk into town to my local café for a coffee – in my reusable cup, of course. I live within a two minute walk of the Thames and have done – albeit across four counties – for 25 years now; I cannot imagine life without the river close by, I love how life changes with the seasons, and it’s great to get some fresh air before work. WORKPLACE Sam Cawthorne, Marketing Communications Lead at Kyocera Document Solutions, picks the tools she uses every day and couldn’t do her job without I couldn’t do my job without… Sam Cawthorne
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01732 759725 20 adaptation of technology, particularly in print – bringing print and digitisation together, really, I think sometimes they are still a bit further apart than they should be. PITR: What has been your proudest moment of the past 10 years? GP: My proudest moment would be moving away from a hardware-focussed speeds and feeds approach to sales and building a software and professional services-first solution for the two biggest accounts we had. As an OEM, leading with software and professional services was a real graduation for us in the industry, and it transformed us from being a printer supplier to a true technology solutions provider. Also getting the finance department to recognise and separate out software and services revenue (a seven-figure sum!) for the first time was a great step, because it shifted the mentality in the whole organisation. PITR: Sum up the decade in three words. GP: Technology. Behaviour. Pivot. really significant role in every business, so it was a natural move for me to make. PITR: What was your first job? GP: I think my very first job must have been a paper boy. Do they even exist anymore? PITR: What has been the high point of the decade? GP: For me, personally, it has to be Manchester City winning the treble two years ago. PITR: And the low point? GP: Again, this is another personal moment. Losing both of my parents on the same day. PITR: What (or who) has had the greatest impact in the sector in the last 10 years? GP: COVID without a doubt. We can’t ignore the cultural and societal impact it has had globally on people’s behaviours in and out of work, and what it’s done to our industry in particular. There’s been a lot of good things – flexibility of working hours and working locations, but at the same time, it’s put an enormous focus on the print industry. I would say it has sharpened our focus on where value is, print vendors now need to meet people where they are. That’s one of the reasons I’m at Canon, the company has a strategy, a strength of vision and clarity of position, we are in a great place to exploit opportunity in this new world. PITR: If you could change one thing about the last decade, what would it be? GP: Obviously, we can’t change what COVID did to the world, but I would say, business has been faced with a number of existential threats over the years, if you think about Y2K or digital transformation, and now AI. I think if I could change something, I’d like to see a more universal PrintIT Reseller (PITR): You’ve been working in the print and IT industry for more than ten years. What led you to enter the sector? Gareth Pearce (GP): After graduating, I moved to the US. In my mid-20s, I met some people who were about to start a dot.com. We had to set it up from scratch and we sank all our money into it. It was quite radical at the time. That was my first foray into technology and it was a great experience. Then venture capital pulled the funding right across what they call Silicon Alley in New York to Silicon Valley in California. So, I moved back to the UK in 2005 and started doing some consulting for Ricoh, a few years later I joined Konica Minolta and more recently I worked at PaperCut, before joining Canon earlier this year. I had a technology background from my dot.com days, and the commerciality of technology and how it was changing people’s lives, that’s sort of in your bones. In the early 2000s, print played a Gareth Pearce, Head of Channel Sales, Canon shares his experiences over the past decade, what he’s learned, and the highs and the lows of our unique and challenging industry A decade in print INTERVIEW Gareth Pearce
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PRINTIT AWARDS 20 25 Royal Lancaster · December 2 Entries for the 2025 edition of the PrintIT Awards are now closed and our judges are hard at work reviewing the entries and completing the tough task of determining the winners 22 01732 759725 PrintIT Awards 2025 www.printitawards.co.uk HEADLINE SPONSOR GOLD SPONSORS 2025 SILVER & BRONZE SPONSORS We launched the PrintIT Awards to celebrate the achievements of our vital, ever changing technology sector with a comprehensive programme of awards, covering all aspects of the industry. We think vendors, distributors, service providers, resellers and the people who work for them should get the plaudits they deserve, which is why we are delighted to organise and run the UK’s only awards programme for the UK printer/MFP industry. Our judges are now hard at work reviewing the entries. The judging sessions will take place on Thursday September 11, when we will complete the tough task of determining the shortlists and of course the overall winners. We will publish the shortlists in all categories on www.printitreseller.co.uk on Monday September 15. Don’t forget to vote This year there are three vendor awards where dealers, resellers, managed print and IT service providers are invited to cast their votes. A3 MFP Vendor of the Year Sponsored by Data Direct A4 Printer/MFP Vendor of the Year Finance & Leasing Provider of the Year
PRINTIT AWARDS 23 PRINTITRESELLER.UK A night to remember The team are busy planning a night to remember – with fine dining, music, entertainment, great company, and of course the big reveal of the 2025 winners. THE best event of the year will take place on the evening of Tuesday December 2 at the Royal Lancaster Hotel - if you haven’t already booked your place, call us on 01732 759 725, download the booking form at www.printitawards.co.uk or email us at [email protected]. Sponsorship opportunities There are a variety of sponsorship opportunities for those who want to raise their profile through association with the PrintIT Awards, on the awards evening itself and through pre- and post-awards publicity and marketing activities in Kingswood Media’s magazines, websites and social media channels. To find out more, please call us on 01732 759725 to discuss opportunities with a member of the team. AFTER PARTY SPONSOR OUT-OUT WITH 2025 ENTERTAINMENT SPONSOR 2025 PHOTOBOOTH SPONSOR 2025 BALLOON SPONSOR 2025 RECRUITMENT PARTNER THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 11 Judging day MONDAY SEPTEMBER 15 Shortlists announced FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 19 Voting closes MONDAY SEPTEMBER 29 Voting shortlists announced TUESDAY DECEMBER 02 Awards dinner Key dates 2025
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