PRINT, MFP, SOFTWARE, SERVICES, DOCUMENT & CLOUD NEWS & INFORMATION FOR VARS, CONVERGED RESELLERS & MFP DEALERS www.printitreseller.uk ISSUE 139 · 2026 PRINT IT RESELLER MAGAZINE IN PRINT & ONLINE SINCE 2011 What does it take to make printing just work? Meet the judges See page 22
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Entries to the 2026 PrintIT Awards will officially open on Tuesday May 5 and they will close promptly at 5pm on Friday July 17. 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 get in touch with one of the team. We’re delighted to introduce the 2026 PrintIT Awards judging panel on page 22. Quocirca’s Sustainability Leaders 2025 report highlights rising customer expectations, regulatory uncertainty and growing demand for transparency across the print ecosystem. In this month’s VOX POP, we ask industry leaders how they are responding to these shifting demands and where they are focusing their sustainability efforts – page 39. Also in this issue, Sophie Ross, Dealer Account Manager at RISO, picks the work tools she uses every day and couldn’t do her job without (page 18). This month’s Q&A is with Marc Ueckermann, Chief Technology Officer, Xenith, and PITR spent 60 seconds with Peter Cowan, COO, Data Direct. 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 04 Events 2026 channel roadshow series 06 Bulletin News from the channel 12 Bulletin Where do you take yours? 16 People A round-up of new hires 18 I couldn’t do my job without... Sophie Ross picks her favourite work tools 20 My life in print Lee Manning shares details of his life in print 22 PrintIT Awards Meet the judges 26 Xerox-Lexmark New global print go‑to‑market structure 29 News feature Pantum sets its sights on UK and European growth 30 One-to-one Ruth Patterson, Managing Director, HP Inc. UK&I 32 Cover Story How does MyQ turn printing complexity into simplicity? 36 Products Sharp expands MFP and cloud portfolio 39 VOX POP The sustainability challenge – part one 46 Industry insight Rowan Jeffreys-Hoar, Director of Partner Channel, Ricoh UK 48 View from the channel Marc Ueckermann, Chief Technology Officer, Xenith 50 60 seconds with… Peter Cowan, COO, Data Direct COMMENT 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. 2026 ISSUE 139 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 139 ISSN 2055-3110 (Print) ISSN 2055-3129 (Online) PRINTITRESELLER.UK 3 Secure by design End-to-end protection, access control, auditability, printing policies, and enhanced data protection.
01732 759725 4 collaboration. To add an extra incentive, everyone who attends on the day will be entered into a free prize draw. Kingswood Media believes the 2026 roadshow series will play an important role in supporting reseller growth in the year ahead. With technology convergence accelerating and customer expectations rising, the ability to learn something new, discover emerging opportunities and build stronger partnerships has never been more valuable. “For many resellers, the chance to meet multiple vendors from different segments under one roof offers a timeefficient way to explore new solutions and stay ahead of market trends. “Whether you want to pop in for an hour or stay for longer, it’s totally up to you. We look forward to seeing you there,” White said. cybersecurity, AI, and the evolving print landscape. The sessions are designed to be practical, insight-driven and relevant, giving attendees valuable takeaways to implement within their own businesses. Ethan White, Director at Kingswood Media says the events have been created to support the channel’s growing appetite for in-person engagement. “After several years of virtual and hybrid formats, the team is bringing back the value of face-to-face conversations – enabling resellers to ask questions directly, see technology up close and build stronger, more meaningful relationships with new and existing vendor partners. Whether reconnecting with long-standing partners or meeting new suppliers for the first time, the roadshows are designed to encourage open discussion, idea sharing and The events, taking place at the Hilton Doubletree, Coventry on Thursday 10 September, Bristol North Doubletree, Tuesday 29 September and Manchester Airport Doubletree, Thursday 29 October, will give resellers the opportunity to pop in for as long as they wish, meet a wide range of vendors, hear from industry experts and connect with peers from across the UK. Each roadshow will feature up to 13 exhibitors, representing not only the print sector but also adjacent technology areas such as telecoms and IT. The aim is to give attendees access to a diverse mix of suppliers in one place, helping them explore new partnerships, strengthen existing relationships and uncover new revenue opportunities. Alongside the vendor stands, the 2026 roadshows will include an informal programme of guest speakers. These will cover some of the most pressing and relevant topics shaping the channel today such as mergers and acquisitions, Kingswood Media is launching a brand new series of regional roadshows designed to bring the channel community together for networking, learning and face-to-face engagement Kingswood Media announces 2026 channel roadshow series EVENTS Resellers are encouraged to register their interest. Please contact Ethan [email protected] or Neil [email protected] for more information. A round of golf If you enjoy playing golf and networking with 40 plus people from a mix of industries, why not get a team together and join the PrintIT Reseller and Technology Reseller Golf Society? Places are allocated on a first-come first-served basis so please contact Ethan, Neil or Paul to reserve a spot or ask any questions. The 2025 edition went down a storm and we are delighted to announce the 2026 schedule. Round one: Carden Park, Cheshire Course May 14 Round two: Copt Heath Golf Club, Solihull June 4 Round three: Walmley Golf Club, Sutton Coldfield July 9 Round four: Wyboston Lakes Golf Club, Bedford September 17 Final round: Silvermere Golf Club, Cobham October 15
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01732 759725 6 BULLETIN Partnership accelerates sustainability goals The University of St Andrews has moved a step closer to its target of reaching net zero carbon by 2035, after forging a new partnership with Agilico to install more than 130 remanufactured printers across its historic campus. Following a competitive tender process in which sustainability accounted for 15% of the overall quality score, Agilico was appointed to deliver a solution built around circular economy principles, measurable Scope 3 carbon reduction and a responsive local support model. Agilico proposed a blended fleet of Ricoh devices from its wider portfolio, including 131 Agilico Zero as-new remanufactured Ricoh A3 multifunctional devices, along with 21 brand new Ricoh A4 machines for specialist and lower-use areas. PaperCut MF software was implemented to provide secure authentication and reporting, with all Agilico Zero devices covered by a lifetime guarantee. By adopting a fleet where 86% of devices were remanufactured, the University achieved a reduction of 69.64 tonnes of CO2 emissions. Operating in Ricoh’s Eco Mode, the fleet delivers up to an 84.3% reduction in electricity consumption, generating estimated energy savings of more than £5,000 across the contract term and reducing energy-related CO2 emissions by 84.7%. Ross Garnier of the University of St Andrews said: “Our experience with Agilico and Agilico Zero devices has really progressed our sustainability goals. The devices themselves have also massively improved our user experience of the print system.” Alex Main, Account Director at Agilico, added: “We wanted to prove that sustainability does not mean compromise. By combining new and remanufactured devices, we have helped the University lower carbon, reduce energy consumption and maintain a high quality user experience, supported by a strong local service model.” www.agilico.co.uk Emerge Digital expands into South Wales Emerge Digital is expanding from its heartland in the southwest of England into south Wales, through a partnership with PureCyber, and the appointment of former Wales and British & Irish Lions wing Alex Cuthbert as Regional Business Development Director. The partnership between the Cheltenhambased MSP and Cardiff-based cyber security specialist is expected to create a comprehensive offering for customers that brings together Emerge Digital’s managed service capabilities and PureCyber’s expertise in round-the-clock monitoring, incident response, penetration testing and wider security resilience programmes. Cuthbert said: “South Wales has always been home for me, and it’s full of ambitious companies doing incredible things. I’m looking forward to getting out into the region, meeting those businesses, understanding their challenges and helping them use technology in ways that genuinely move them forward.” Emerge Digital is also extending its six-year relationship with Gloucester Rugby with the signing of a new three-year deal to redefine matchday experiences and strengthen the club’s community engagement. The company is also sponsoring Gloucester Rugby’s main conferencing and hospitality space at Kingsholm Stadium. https://emerge.digital Principle Networks joins Wiz Partner Alliance Principle Networks, a cybersecurity and network services provider, has joined the Wiz Partner Service Alliance, a global ecosystem of MSPs authorised to deliver services around the Wiz cloud security platform. As an authorised UK delivery partner, Principle Networks can now implement and configure the Wiz platform, support customer onboarding, provide optimisation and remediation services, deliver security operations and advisory expertise, and help organisations operationalise Wiz findings across their cloud environments. Through its Wiz-aligned services, Principle Networks offers cloud security assessments to identify risk and strengthen posture, along with ongoing managed services to help organisations maintain a resilient cloud security stance. Mike Beevor, CTO at Principle Networks, said: “Achieving Wiz delivery authorisation status represents a significant milestone for Principle Networks and our customers who demand the highest standards of cloud security implementation. As organisations accelerate their cloud adoption, the complexity of securing these environments grows exponentially. This authorisation demonstrates our commitment to delivering solutions with precision and minimal disruption.” www.principle-networks.com Ingram Micro UK to distribute Philips Monitors MMD Monitors, the brand licence partner for Philips Monitors, has expanded its UK channel presence through a new distribution agreement with Ingram Micro UK. The partnership covers the full Philips business monitor portfolio, ranging from entry-level office displays to high-end professional and creative-focused models. Resellers and system integrators will gain streamlined access to Philips Monitors via dedicated brand pages on Ingram Micro’s Xvantage platform, supported by the distributor’s established logistics infrastructure. Paul Butler, UK & Ireland Regional Sales Director at MMD Monitors, said: “Partnering with Ingram Micro represents a significant step forward for Philips Monitors in the UK market. Their extensive reach and established relationships across the channel will enable us to bring our full portfolio to a much wider network of resellers. We’re committed to supporting our partners with competitive products and strong margins, and this partnership gives us the platform to do exactly that.” https://www.philips.co.uk/c-m-so/monitors Emerge Digital CEO Nigel Church with new recruit Alex Cuthbert BULLETIN
PRINTITRESELLER.UK 7 BULLETIN Two-year agreement BLOC and Group Perfect have signed an exclusive two-year agreement to bring Group Perfect’s services to BLOC members. Combining the services of sister companies Sales Perfect, Bid Perfect and Perfect Media, the 20-strong Group Perfect team provide a wide range of specialist support designed to help members improve sales performance, bids and tenders’ success. and management and leadership development. Group Perfect’s services of training, consultancy, coaching and subject expertise support will be delivered under BLOC’s Pioneer programme. Alex Stone, BLOC’s Sales Director, said: “This agreement is exciting news for members that will deliver an even greater portfolio of content under Pioneer. We are looking forward to working with the team at Group Perfect and providing highly effective and relevant training to help members drive performance in all areas of their business.” https://bloc-group.co.uk/ Expanded UK&I partnership Exclusive Networks is expanding its partnership with Extreme Networks to bring AI-driven cloud networking solutions to the UK and Ireland. Building on strong results across Europe and APAC, the partnership boosts Exclusive’s regional portfolio and sharpens its capabilities in cloud networking, automation and enterprise infrastructure. Extreme’s solutions complement Exclusive’s cybersecurity-led portfolio and broaden its impact across modern enterprise networking. By combining Extreme’s technology with Exclusive’s ecosystem of cybersecurity and visibility vendors, channel partners can deliver higher value solutions across zero trust architectures, network detection and response (NDR), network access control (NAC), DNS security and integrated network security operations. In addition to supporting Extreme’s established networking portfolio, Exclusive Networks will focus on the Extreme Platform ONE all-in-one AI-powered enterprise networking platform. Neil Brosnan, Vendor Alliances Director, Exclusive Networks UKI, said: “We’re excited to partner with Extreme Networks across the UK and Ireland. Their modern, platform-led networking proposition tightly aligns with our cyber-first strategy, enabling partners to simplify and secure their customers’ increasingly complex enterprise networks. Together, we are committed to helping partners capitalise on these new opportunities by delivering more differentiated, higher-value solutions and services.” www.exclusive-networks.com www.extremenetworks.com AI innovation TD SYNNEX has announced the launch of the SAS Partner Solution Environment, a new enablement resource designed to help partners across Europe accelerate AI- and analyticsdriven business outcomes. The solution environment is built on SAS Viya, a unified analytics platform that simplifies complex deployments and supports innovation across public, private, and hybrid cloud infrastructure. The environment provides partners with a ready-to-use platform to demonstrate the business value of AI, advanced analytics, and data lifecycle management through activities such as demos, proof of concepts, proof of value workshops, and repeatable solution builds based on SAS Viya. By enabling partners to develop solutions more quickly, the environment helps accelerate sales cycles, increase win rates, and enhance customer engagement. The SAS Partner Solution Environment is a joint initiative between TD SYNNEX and SAS, enabled through close collaboration with Lenovo, Intel and Red Hat, whose expertise in hybrid infrastructure, high-performance hardware, and scalable cloud solutions helped bring this environment to life. Craig Smith, Vice President, Data, AI & Applications, Europe, TD SYNNEX, said: “Partners can now demonstrate business value faster and strengthen their role as trusted analytics advisors. This initiative accelerates customer conversations, reinforcing TD SYNNEX’s strategy to simplify innovation and enable growth across our ecosystem.” https://uk.tdsynnex.com/ Distribution first for Westcon-Comstor Westcon-Comstor has announced an expansion of its partnership with cybersecurity and compliance company Proofpoint, becoming the first distributor in Europe to deliver Proofpoint professional services. With an emphasis on scalability and speed to ensure fast time-to-value for channel partners, Westcon will deliver production-ready deployments of Proofpoint solutions through a series of off-the-shelf, partner-friendly packages based on Proofpoint best practices. The initiative, driven by Westcon joining Proofpoint’s Certified Deployment Partner (CDP) programme, enables partners across the region to capture high margin services opportunities and accelerate recurring revenue growth, fueled by rapid adoption by customers. This expansion marks the latest milestone in the two companies’ relationship. Last year Westcon-Comstor became the first Proofpoint Authorised Training Partner (ATP) in Europe, allowing the distributor to deliver Proofpointcertified education and enablement services at scale to channel partners and end-users across the region. www.westconcomstor.com Craig Smith Sophos software store TD SYNNEX has launched a dedicated Software Store for Sophos. Partners can see all their upcoming Sophos agreements on the Software Store dashboard, quickly generate quotations and process renewals. In addition, partners can see available upgrade options for customers’ current licences and will also be able to view quotations they have generated using the AI tool within the Sophos Partner Centre, which are fed into the Software Store automatically. Simon Bennett, Managing Director, Advanced Solutions, UK and Ireland, TD SYNNEX hopes the Software Store will attract the attention of new partners. “We have an excellent overall value proposition for Sophos partners that provides them with access to business development support resources and all the expertise and know-how of our specialist security practice.” https://uk.tdsynnex.com/ Simon Bennett Neil Brosnan
01732 759725 8 Tungsten and ORdigiNAL expand partnership Tungsten Automation and ORdigiNAL have elevated their long-standing relationship by forming a global strategic partnership for 2026. The agreement formalises years of successful collaboration and reflects both organisations’ commitment to deeper global alignment and driving mutual success together. Under the strengthened partnership, the companies will work together to accelerate growth and expand the global reach of Tungsten solutions, enhance joint go-to-market execution across regions, and deliver increased value for customers. The expanded relationship builds on a strong foundation and positions both companies to unlock new opportunities in the year ahead. www.tungstenautomation.com, https://ordiginal.com BULLETIN Nebula launches loyalty program Nebula Global Services has unveiled its new Impact Rewards Partner Program, a first‑of‑its‑kind initiative designed to align customer loyalty with tangible environmental, social and governance (ESG) outcomes. The program embeds social impact, carbon credits and service governance into eligible service contract renewals, enabling partners to demonstrate carbon reduction, social contribution and long‑term sustainability leadership. On renewal, qualifying customers can choose from three reward pathways. The carbon credit option funds high‑integrity decarbonisation projects through Nebula’s verified partner PNZ Carbon, with partners receiving retirement certificates confirming the associated impact, which they can use in their voluntary sustainability reporting, helping to hit their sustainability goals. The social impact option channels carbon credits into targeted social housing upgrades, supporting improvements such as insulation, heating system improvements and fabric-first measures to help families live in warmer, healthier homes. The service governance credit provides access to Nebula’s Remote Managed Services, linking operational performance and transparency to governance best practice. Richard Eglon, Chief Marketing Officer, Nebula Global Services said: “The Nebula Impact Rewards Partner Program reflects our belief that sustainability must be woven into the fabric of the technology services value chain – not treated as an afterthought. By integrating carbon credits, social impact, and service governance-driven incentives into contract renewals, we’re empowering our customers to create real-world impact simply by doing what they already do. This initiative doesn’t just reward loyalty; it reinforces our shared responsibility to build a more sustainable and inclusive tech community for everyone.” www.nebulaglobalservices.com Ricoh acquires ET Group Ricoh has announced the acquisition of Canadian workplace technology and collaboration integrator ET Group. The deal, completed by Ricoh Canada Inc., strengthens the company’s position as a provider of endto-end workplace experience solutions and accelerates its expansion into high growth digital services. It also supports Ricoh’s global strategy to meet the needs of an evolving workplace environment. The acquisition brings ET Group’s extensive audiovisual engineering expertise into Ricoh’s portfolio. Known for designing, delivering and supporting enterprise-wide collaboration environments, particularly for government and other highly regulated sectors, the integration enhances Ricoh’s ability to deliver scalable, technology-driven workplace solutions across Canada. The investment expands Ricoh’s capabilities in enterprise-grade AV design and integration, hybrid meeting and collaboration solutions, managed digital workplace services and workplace experience and onsite staffing services. ET Group will operate as a whollyowned subsidiary of Ricoh Canada, adding a highly skilled team of AV engineers, designers, project managers and support specialists trusted by major corporations and public institutions. Customers will gain access to a more comprehensive service ecosystem that integrates AV and collaboration technologies, workplace experience services, mailroom automation and managed print, scan and fleet services. The combined offering enables organisations to design, connect and manage the workplace as a unified, intelligent environment. www.ricoh.com Xerox named an AI leader Xerox has been named a leader in the Quocirca AI Vendor Landscape 2026, underscoring its position at the forefront of AI-enabled print, workflow and digital transformation technologies. The report recognised the company for its AI-first innovation strategy, comprehensive AI workflow ecosystem, and early adoption of agentic AI. This marks the second consecutive year Xerox has achieved a leadership ranking in the annual assessment. Stephen Miller, Chief Digital Officer at Xerox said: “Xerox is building the next-generation of intelligent workplace and production solutions with AI, cloud and automation at the centre. AI is infused throughout our products, services and internal operations and this recognition from Quocirca highlights the strength of our AI-first strategy and the meaningful outcomes we’re delivering for clients and partners.” Louella Fernandes, CEO of Quocirca said: “Xerox continues to perform strongly across AI-enabled print and workflow innovation. Its comprehensive and tightly integrated AI ecosystem showcases both depth and maturity. The company’s strategic focus on agentic AI and responsible governance positions it as a leader in driving the next phase of intelligent workplace transformation.” Quocirca also cited new opportunities created through the Lexmark integration, expanding capabilities in workflow automation, device management, SIEM integration, retail solutions and predictive service a strength. www.xerox.com
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01732 759725 10 BULLETIN Canon wins A3 Line of the Year and uniFLOW Online Pick Award Canon has secured two award wins from Keypoint Intelligence, including the BLI 2026 A3 Line of the Year Award for its imageFORCE multifunction printer range. This marks the thirteenth time Canon has received this accolade. The company also earned a BLI 2026 Pick Award recognising uniFLOW Online as an Outstanding Cloud Output Management Solution for the eighth consecutive year. Keypoint Intelligence praised the imageFORCE series for its advanced technologies, including high‑definition OLED exposure for market‑leading print quality, a unified and intuitive user interface, and robust zero trust‑aligned security features. Keypoint Intelligence also awarded the imageFORCE C1333 Series and the Canon i-SENSYS X C1538iF II, two models in Canon’s A4 printer range, with 2026 A4 Pick Awards. It also recognised the imageFORCE 6170, C5140 and C5150 A3 devices with 2026 A3 Pick Awards. uniFLOW Online was recognised for its ability to track costs, enable mobile printing and combine document workflows into one single, easy-to-use cloud service. Keypoint also noted the platform’s enhanced security features, such as secure pull-printing, multifactor authentication, end-to-end encryption and audit redaction, which help businesses to keep confidential documents secure. The solution’s centralised cloud administration capability, with Remote Device Access, was also highlighted, which enables IT teams to track, control and troubleshoot print and scan activities from virtually anywhere. Khalid Aziz, Marketing Director, Digital Printing & Solutions at Canon UK & Ireland, said: “Businesses today face numerous challenges, whilst striving to transform and innovate. They need to achieve sustainable growth, drive secure productivity and equip employees with IT solutions which are accessible, deliver a strong user experience and help them perform their role. uniFLOW Online and imageFORCE empower our customers to achieve these goals, and we’re proud that both technology solutions have been honoured with prestigious Keypoint Intelligence BLI 2026 Awards.” www.canon.co.uk Epson recognised for reliability and performance Epson has secured a range of accolades at Keypoint Intelligence’s annual awards, securing praise for its heat-free business inkjet printers as well as for its business scanner line-up. The Epson WorkForce Pro WF-C5890 and the WorkForce Enterprise AM-C550 both secured Pick Awards in the A4 category having delivered a strong performance in all print speed tests. Further, the printers demonstrated faster-thanaverage job streams and first-print-out-times that help make for productive, multi-user environments. Epson’s WorkForce Enterprise AM-C5000 secured an Outstanding Achievement Award in Reliability. Alongside its printers, Epson’s business scanner range also achieved recognition as the Scanner Line of the year. The range was identified for its excellent performance during Keypoint Intelligence’s testing with the analyst group praising it as a fresh, broad portfolio with strong features set that can meet and exceed the needs of different working environments. The range was further praised for its exceptional ease of use, notable image quality and excellent software offering. Karl Angove, Epson Europe said: “We’re thrilled to have received so much recognition and are delighted that the efforts we make with our products and their capabilities have been recognised by such a prestigious analyst group.” www.epson.co.uk Ricoh named a leader Ricoh has been positioned in the leaders category of the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide High-Speed Inkjet 2025 Vendor Assessment for the third time. The report highlights Ricoh’s global reach, reliability, strong technical service, and continued investment in innovation, noting advances in printhead accuracy, job automation and sustainability features. IDC also praised Ricoh’s complementary portfolio of tonerbased presses. Eef De Ridder, Vice President, Graphic Communications Group, Ricoh Europe, said: “We were delighted be recognised as a leader in the IDC MarketScape. We are focused on enabling clients to best position their operations to successfully manage the developing print production landscape. Our services, solutions and own-developed technologies are expertly shaped for each operation in response to their individual needs. We collaborate and co-innovate every step of the way to support clients as they evolve their operations, expand their services and grow their business.” www.ricoh-europe.com Konica Minolta earns place on CDP Climate A List Konica Minolta has been named to CDP’s Climate A List, marking the ninth time the company has received the environmental organisation’s highest rating. The list recognises global leaders for their climate action targets, performance and transparency. Konica Minolta aims to achieve net zero CO₂ emissions across its entire product lifecycle (Scopes 1–3) by 2050, addressing key material issues such as climate change and resource efficiency. The company is strengthening its core technologies through AI and the integration of technologies across business areas to help reduce energy use and emissions across workflows and supply chains. It remains committed to supporting a decarbonised society while driving business growth. www.konicaminolta.co.uk
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01732 759725 12 BULLETIN We’re all about championing print at PrintIT Reseller, so why not join in the ‘Where do you take yours’ challenge? Don’t forget to get your camera out and get a photo of yourself reading the latest issue in the most unexpected spot you can find – whether that’s atop a mountain trail, tucked into a hidden café corner, or even mid–air on your next flight. Here’s a selection of the shots we received this month. Where do you take yours? James O’Connor, Co-Owner & Managing Director, WBM PrintIT Reseller magazine was in demand at DSales’ Sales Summit which took place at Stadium MK, the home of Milton Keynes Dons FC Simon Cripp Phil Madders, PAE Business Steve Davis Phil Lee, Access4 Sarah Hori, Nico Office Simon Davi
PRINTITRESELLER.UK 13 BULLETIN We want to see where you take your issue and where our magazine travels with YOU! Send me your pix for a chance to see your face (and your favourite pages) featured in our next issue. You can reach me at [email protected] (l-r) Michelle Ryder, Phil Jones, Charles Taylor, Digitec and Greig Millar Whilst filming a panel discussion at Brother UK HQ, we all took a few minutes to check out the latest news in print and printing! Charles Taylor couldn’t resist a second sneak peek! ps, Elite Office Systems s, Office Evolution is, Tudor
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01732 759725 16 BULLETIN : PEOPLE mhance appoints CEO Microsoft Solutions Partner mhance has appointed Chris Allan as its new Chief Executive Officer. Allan will lead the company’s next phase of growth, building on its strong Microsoft credentials and loyal customer base following its acquisition by SilverTree Equity, a London-based, growth-oriented private equity firm in 2025. Allan joins with a clear mandate to strengthen mhance’s Microsoft-first positioning and evolve the business into a scalable, data-driven partner aligned to how customers operate across the Microsoft cloud. Chairman Julian Stone said: “Chris’s appointment is a significant step in the continued development of mhance. He brings a deep understanding of the Microsoft ecosystem and the leadership discipline required to scale a high-performing managed services and solutions business. We are confident that under his leadership, mhance will strengthen its market position and continue to deliver increasing value for customers and shareholders alike.” www.mhance.com Adam Councell named Midwich CFO Adam Councell has joined global specialist audio visual distributor Midwich as Chief Financial Officer and a member of the board. Councell was previously Chief Financial Officer at Marlowe Plc, a position he held from 2021 through to its takeover by Mitie Group plc in August 2025. Stephen Lamb has stepped down from his role as Group Finance Director and a member of the board. Councell said: “I am thrilled to be joining Midwich at such an exciting time. It is a great business with an excellent market position and a strong culture. I am looking forward to working with the team in the coming months as we look to execute the compelling growth strategy.” www.midwichgroupplc.com Mark Wilkinson appointed BOSS Vice Chairperson Boss Federation has appointed Mark Wilkinson as Vice Chairperson. He has been a member of the BOSS board for over two years bringing a wealth of industry experience and insight and will play a pivotal role in shaping its direction over the coming years, supporting the Chairperson and wider board in championing the organisation’s strategy. BOSS CEO, Amy Hutchinson said: “It’s a pleasure to see Mark stepping into the role of Vice Chairperson. Having served on the BOSS board for over two years, his support and counsel have been invaluable, and I look forward to working closely with him in this new capacity.” Wilkinson said: “I had no hesitation in saying yes, when asked to take on the role of Vice Chairperson of the BOSS board. It has been a pleasure to serve over the last two years, during what has been a tumultuous time for our industry and I am looking forward to supporting Chairperson Aidan McDonough, Amy and the rest of the BOSS board as well as our members.” www.bossfederation.com Kubus unveils senior leadership team Kubus, a provider of specialised networking and IT infrastructure solutions and managed services has reinforced its senior leadership team, ensuring it remains at the forefront of a rapidly evolving global digital marketplace. Katie Hunt has been promoted to the role of Marketing Director and James Orton has been appointed CFO, reuniting with CEO Jeremy Keefe to replicate previous successes. The senior leadership team is tasked with spearheading the company’s ambitious fiveyear growth plan, focusing on global delivery, systems integration and operational excellence. The reinforced leadership team brings together a wealth of experience across the technology sector, ensuring Kubus remains at the forefront of a rapidly evolving global digital marketplace. Supported by Paul Bonner’s technical field vision, Hunt’s strategic marketing, and Liv Duncan’s focus on talent and culture, the enhanced senior leadership team is prepared to navigate the complexities of the next five years. With Paul Brennan providing board-level governance and Jordan Selby managing financial operations, Kubus is positioned to deliver unprecedented value to its global client base. www.kubus.com Chris Allan Mark Wilkinson James Orton Jeremy Keefe Katie Hunt Tungsten Automation expands leadership team Tungsten Automation has announced three key additions to its executive leadership team – Danielle Weinblatt as Chief Product Officer, Adam Field as Chief AI Officer, and Ryan Hubbard as Executive Vice President and Head of Research & Development. These appointments underscore the company’s commitment to advancing its AI-first product vision and delivering breakthrough innovation for customers worldwide. CEO Peter Hantman said: “I’m thrilled to welcome Danielle and Ryan to Tungsten Automation, and I am very excited for Adam’s new role. Danielle’s product vision, Adam’s ability to harness the power of AI, and Ryan’s technology leadership will be instrumental as we continue our transformation into an AI‑first company. Their expertise strengthens our commitment to deliver innovation and value for our customers.” www.tungstenautomation.com
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01732 759725 18 My colleagues and managers I’m lucky to work with such a supportive team at RISO. From head office to our technical team, they are all always happy to jump in when needed. And my manager knows when to push me, and when to support me. I couldn’t ask for better people around me. Peppermint and liquorice tea I’m a bit of a coffee addict. I think you have to be when you’ve got a two‑year‑old who starts early. But once the caffeine has done its job, I reach for my trusty peppermint and liquorice tea. I’m not a liquorice lover, but somehow with peppermint it just works. It’s soothing, refreshing, and has become a non-negotiable part of my day. If you haven’t tried it yet, I’d really recommend giving it a go. I also make sure I’m never without it. I have little stashes everywhere – the glove box, my overnight bag, and pretty much every pocket of my handbag. I never know when I’m going to need one! Our partners Many of the partners I work with have been with me from day one, and those relationships have become about much more than just business. We talk about sales targets, installs and opportunities, but we also talk about families, holidays, and how life is going. We know each other well, and more importantly, we genuinely care. There’s a huge amount of trust in what we do, and I never take it for granted. They put me in front of their customers, that trust means a lot. Personal connection is what makes the job so rewarding. It makes the good days even better, and the difficult days easier to get through. I’m incredibly grateful for the brilliant people I get to work with. the demands of the job and never bats an eyelid when my plans change last minute. We’re also really lucky to have my parents close by to help us out. Apple CarPlay and driving I genuinely don’t know where I’d be without Apple CarPlay. The hands-free alone is a lifesaver, being able to safely make calls on the road is essential in my role. There’s Spotify, which keeps me company on long journeys with a mix of music and podcasts. And of course, Siri, perfect for capturing all my random thoughts and to-do reminders as they pop into my head while I’m driving. I actually use my time in the car to process the day and plan ahead. More often than not, I’ll make multiple notes to myself during a journey. I find driving quite therapeutic, it gives me space to think, reset, and get organised before the next stop. The RISO demo van Our portable showroom is a huge part of my day to day. It’s a brilliant tool for connecting with partners and customers, and where so many important conversations happen, customers see the technology in action, and opportunities turn into sales. It also definitely gets a few double takes when I pull up! Over time I’ve learned a few important lessons, like changing into my heels when I arrive, instead of trying to drive in them! My family Behind every early start, late finish and mile on the road is my family. Right at the centre of that is my two-year-old son, who is both my biggest motivation and my daily reminder of why balance matters. I also absolutely couldn’t do this without my husband. He does a similar job to me, so our house runs on military‑level diary planning – who’s away, who’s got the early start, who’s on nursery drop-off. He totally gets Sophie Ross, Dealer Account Manager at RISO, picks the tools she uses every day and couldn’t do her job without I couldn’t do my job without… WORKPLACE Sophie Ross
01732 759725 20 Lee Manning multiples to exit their businesses, but now in a post-COVID world, the multiples that used to be on offer are just unrealistic. This has led to a lot of current owners feeling trapped and wanting to try and achieve the multiples of seven or eight years ago. I don’t think I’ve seen a successful private equity exit from the sector since Apogee, and I think it’s had a fundamental, not necessarily positive, impact on the sector. In particular, we’ve seen talented engineering people leave the industry. Private equity investors cut back as much as they can, and with salary increases dropping, a lot of these people have gone into other areas. We find it increasingly difficult to recruit good people now because the pool is so much smaller than it used to be. PITR: What has been your proudest moment of the past 10 years? LM: I always like a challenge. For me, coming through the ranks and being in a position today to be able to lead a company in the image that I want to do it is something that I’ve accomplished, but I’m not finished yet. FUTERA is fundamentally a different organisation now we have transitioned to an employee-owned business and I’m excited to continue to lead and shape the business with my own morals and standpoints and surround myself with like-minded people. We all want success, we’re all driven and we’re all nice human beings, and that’s really important. knowing how stuff works and learning it for myself. So, working in the print sector made more sense. PITR: What excites you most about working in print today? LM: It might sound corny, but relationships are the best bit. I particularly enjoy the opportunity to have wider tech conversations with people when we’re talking about print. When you sit with IT directors, they’ve often got a really clear vision of how they want things to be, and it’s exciting to be able to get your product set fit into their ecosystem. PITR: And what are the biggest frustrations or challenges? LM: Although the industry has a better reputation that it used to, I still think the legacy perception of ‘dishonesty’ remains, and there’s an element of scepticism similar to the estate agent or used car salesman that we all get tarnished with. That is frustrating. I don’t think it will go away fully until there’s a whole generational change. Commoditisation of print is another – yes, the printer is an endpoint that sits in the corner of the office, but it’s not like a water cooler, it has a fundamental business purpose, enables better workflows, digital transformation and improves productivity. PITR: What (or who) do you think has had the greatest impact in the sector in recent years? LM: Private equity. Pre-COVID, PE investment gave owners significant PrintIT Reseller (PITR): What was your first job in print? Lee Manning (LM): I worked in a telesales team at Canon, selling paper and consumables to Canon contracted customers, around 2005/6. PITR: What led you to enter the sector? Did you choose print by design, or accident? LM: I left school after A levels. The original plan was to go to university, I was going to study business, but I was pretty done with school, and I wanted to get into sales, so I got a job at Phones 4 U instead. I was earning an £8,000 salary and £1.50 commission for every phone I sold. I did it for about eight weeks, then a job came up at Canon working in the telesales team. There was a whole day of interviews, and they probably had 50 people there for half a dozen jobs. I got the job and it was a significant upgrade on my £8k a year salary! But importantly, it brought me into the corporate world and that’s where I wanted to be. Also, I am a tech guy at heart, I’m a bit of a geek, I love Lee Manning, CEO, FUTERA, shares details of his life in print, what he’s learned, and the highs and the lows of our unique and challenging industry My life in print INTERVIEW
PRINTIT AWARDS 22 01732 759725 Meet the judges We’re delighted to invite you to meet the 2026 PrintIT Awards judging panel. Nigel Allen, Experienced Marketing Leader Nigel is an experienced, agile and commercially focused marketing leader with in-depth industry knowledge. He has worked at board level for several IT and technology businesses including Ricoh, Kyocera and ASL and created strategic marketing strategies and business plans for DaaS and SaaS offerings. With his experience across branding, lead generation, driving demand generation with accountable metrics, and developing new products and services to increase revenue streams, Nigel is a valuable member of the PrintIT Awards judging team and brings a fresh and informed perspective to the judging process. Christian Burton, Founder & CEO, Pipeline Upgrade Christian Burton is a renowned business development specialist and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in the print and document solutions industry. After climbing the ranks at Kyocera Document Solutions UK to lead their new business development team, he founded Pipeline Upgrade Ltd in 2017 – now the go-to choice for many vendors and channel partners seeking to grow sales via qualified new business meetings arranged by his experienced team on a pay per meeting basis. His expertise in this industry has earned him recognition as the 56th most influential voice in the managed print sector globally. With an impressive background spanning corporate leadership and entrepreneurial success, Christian is a driving force behind revenue growth and pipeline expansion. Terry Caulfield, Former Chief Commercial Officer, Brother UK In a career of +40 years in the technology industry of which 33 years in print, Terry has had the privilege to lead channel sales teams across distribution, dealer, VARs, ISVs and indirect end-user sales within public and private sectors. Terry’s years in commercial sales led him to take the role of Brother UK’s CCO enabling him to share his expertise, adding significant value and capability to the UK’s senior leadership team and the wider European operations. Terry has been a keen technologist throughout his career and strives to keep on top of market trends and the opportunities they present, collaborating with IDC and Context UK in market analysts and future forecasts.
PRINTIT AWARDS 23 PRINTITRESELLER.UK continued... Eric Crump, Director of Strategic Alliances, Ringdale With over 25 years in the tech industry, Eric specialises in strategic alliances and print solutions. As Director of Strategic Alliances at Ringdale, he leads partnerships with global printer manufacturers and industry analysts. Eric also serves as President of the Managed Print Services Association (MPSA), advancing education, standards, and best practices globally. Through his leadership, Eric drives collaboration and innovation in the managed print industry. Todd Curtis, Business Development Director (EMEA), Keypoint Intelligence Todd has more than three decades of industry experience and brings a well-rounded, experience-driven perspective to the PrintIT Awards judging panel. His career includes long-standing roles at ProcessFlows, where he worked across business development, product management, and channel sales engagement, as well as positions with OKI and Toshiba TEC, giving him extensive experience across both the technical and commercial sides of the print and document solutions sector. In his current role, Todd promotes Keypoint’s portfolio of services to workplace and industrial equipment OEMs, channel partners, and ISVs across the UK and EMEA. His work spans market intelligence, consulting, channel strategy, software solutions, and the independent testing facilities (BLI) in Wokingham, supporting clients with insight-driven guidance in a rapidly evolving landscape. Max Levenger, Managing Director, Henley Executive Max has worked within the managed print sector since 1997, beginning his career on the supplier side before moving into one of the industry’s earliest internal recruitment roles at IKON Office Solutions (now Ricoh) in 2000. After five years, he transitioned into external recruitment, supporting major players of the time including Danwood, Balreed, M2 and Apogee. Over the years, Max has built a reputation as a trusted partner to senior leaders across the industry. His focus on and ability to foster long-standing relationships has enabled him to develop a unique and influential network, helping organisations across the UK and Europe secure the talent they need for pivotal roles. Today, Henley Executive has grown to a team of eight, expanding beyond its traditional focus on MPS sales recruitment into complementary sectors such as IT, SaaS, document management and a wide range of associated technology markets. Tony Milford, SaaS Founder, Managing Director & Strategic Consultant Tony began his career in the workplace technology sector in the mid-1990s, starting out in sales-aid leasing before helping a former client develop one of the UK’s earliest managed print services programs. In 2000, he founded software sales consultancy Keava Greenhill, selling the business to Vantage in 2003 and later becoming Vantage’s majority owner and CEO in 2010. Following the sale of Vantage to private equity–backed software group Asolvi in 2019, he spent five years in senior board-facing roles including UK Sales Director (Office Print), Head of Business Development, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer and Divisional Managing Director of Vantage Online. He left Asolvi in 2024 to pursue new strategic and advisory work across the workplace technology sector. Tony now works with PrintReleaf as a strategic consultant, representing the company to the UK and European dealer channel and working closely with partners and prospective partners as part of PrintReleaf’s next phase of growth in the region. Phil Powell, Former Director, Midshire Phil is a former Director and key driving force behind the Midshire Group, a business he helped build from the ground up after leaving his role as Regional Sales Manager at Alcatel in 1990. Starting in the West Midlands, Phil expanded Midshire alongside co directors Julian Stafford, Kevin Tunley and Jim Callaghan, growing the company into a nationally recognised provider of print and telecoms solutions. Under his leadership, Midshire opened major offices in Stockport, Cardiff and Sheffield, and developed a thriving telecoms division specialising in the legal sector. In 2014, Phil oversaw the creation of Midshire’s purpose-built 35,000 sq ft headquarters in West Bromwich, achieved without external finance. By 2017, the group had grown to £35 million turnover, 200 staff and 20,000 machines on contract. Midshire’s print operations was acquired by Sharp in 2017 and its communications arm sold in 2022.
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