PrintIT Reseller - issue 69

01732 759725 28 AWARDS media business-to-business publisher, the platforms of which focus on in-depth technical, business and investigative news in their respective sectors. As part of his role he also developed and managed its online presence, social media presence, and multi-channel marketing strategy. After helping to found Link Exhibitions, and with the successful launch of The Print Show, which took place for the first time in October 2015, Brendan was made director of Link Publishing and Link Exhibitions. Key responsibilities included managing its PR and marketing content and strategy, in addition to business development and creating its visitor attractions. Seeking a fresh challenge after gaining this experience and finding he loved PR and creative project development, he moved to Speed Communications (The Mission Marketing Group) looking after four clients in the insurance, marketing, outsourcing and exhibition sectors. With an opportunity then presenting itself from the IPIA to return to print and take up its newly created position of General Manager, Brendan jumped at the chance to use his accumulated experience and skills to support its members to grow and thrive through mutual cooperation. https://ipia.org.uk Jeff Root, UK Country Manager, Mobi Systems Jeff can be described as a true industry veteran. His first foray into the world of technology was back in the day when typewriters and then fax machines were cutting-edge! It would be easier to list the OEMs he hasn’t worked for – Jeff has forged a successful career path working with companies including Canon, Samsung, Panasonic, Sagemcom and Philips. Jeff has extensive experience in sales, management and marketing across product categories including print, mobile, telecoms, imaging, scanners, audio visual and IT and has held a number of senior positions within the sector, most recently as General Manager of Sagem UK. Having ‘left’ the industry 12 months ago to lead a Microsoft-led change programme for one of the UK’s largest housebuilders, he is excited to be taking on a new challenge at the beginning of April with Mobi Systems, a pioneer in multi-device, cross-platform mobile app development. Ian Birch, Managing Director, IBC Group With 20 years’ experience in IT services, Ian founded IBC Group two years ago offering fully independent consultancy services. In Ian’s career, he’s worked with a number of OEMs, including Ricoh and Kyocera, and most recently as Head of Digital Transformation at Xerox. IBC Group has supported a wide range of OEM vendors, channel partners and end clients since launching, with a focus on data insight, process automation and regulatory compliance services. Recognising the challenges facing traditional managed print service providers, Ian has set out to support the transformation of their business models to meet changing client needs, delivering solutions which positively impact the way end-clients work, drive deeper relationships and increase resilience to competitor enquiries. www.ibcg.co.uk Louella Fernandes, Director, Quocirca Louella is globally recognised as a leading authority on market trends in the print, imaging and managed services industry. As an independent industry analyst, Louella provides unique strategic insight and competitive analysis of markets which include managed print services, digital disruption, security and channel trends. Louella has also authored a number of research-led white papers, the most recent being the second edition of the pioneering Print 2025 global market insight study which investigates the future of print in the connected digital workplace. Louella has an extraordinary breadth of understanding of the global market dynamic and the rapid changes the print and imaging industry is experiencing. Key areas of current research focus include the growing impact of the IoT landscape on the printing market; why smart multifunctional products should be better leveraged as intelligent, connected devices; digital transformation, managed print services, workflow and collaboration, alongside emerging trends such as augmented reality and 3D printing. www.quocirca.com Brendan Perring, General Manager, IPIA Starting out in the heroic world of student journalism, Brendan moved onto becoming a freelance reporter in the bonny land of Scotland. After graduating from Edinburgh University with an MA (Hons) in English Literature and History, he worked as an investigative reporter for the Sunday Times of Scotland . Following this experience he moved to Wales and attained a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from Cardiff University and carried out freelance work for a number of regional newspapers. Brendan’s next move took him into the printing world as Editor at Signlink magazine and Deputy Editor of Print Monthly magazine. After two years he was promoted to Editor of Print Monthly and then this was shortly followed by becoming Managing Editor of Link Publishing, which owns these national print titles. Link Publishing is a multi- Louella Fernandes Brendan Perring Jeff Root Ian Birch Meet the judges: Part 1 ...continued In the next issue you’ll have the opportuity to meet the rest of our judging panel