Patrick Headley has become CEO of GI Solutions Group, the direct marketing business comprising data, design and print in Leicester.
He became managing director of GI Solutions, the print and mailing arm of the business, in March last year. At that time Robin Welch was CEO. Now Welch becomes chairman leaving space for Headley to move into.
“I am extremely excited to be CEO of GI Solutions Group and look forward to continuing the successful growth and expansion. We are considering investments and new technology projects for 2016 which will deliver increasing sales and growth for our customers.”
The move comes as demand for direct mail is on the increase after several years of decline. The requirement is now for more targeted or personalised print rather than blanket mailings, driving the use of digital printing.
The company installed a brace of HP PageWide T230 inkjet webs in 2014, replacing one of two Screen TruePress Jet 520s, and further investment with HP or another inkjet web supplier are likely as its litho capacity is built around Zirkon web presses, which while rebuilt, will need replacing.
The Screen inkjet presses had been installed in 2007 in order to handle transactional print with an eye on their use for direct mail. However, these are limited in terms of speed
Headley is now in charge of a group which has been reorganised into three cross fertilising operations. GI Insight and Cognesia are the data management and handling side of the business focused on using data to help in customer acquisition and retention. GI Red is the creative agency, launched in November last year, which formats the data into messages which are delivered by GI Solutions when print is used as the delivery channel.
Andy Wood heads up GI Insight as managing director, Darren Crawford is managing director of GI Red and Alistair Ezzy, previously operations director, takes on the role of managing director for GI Solutions Group.
Robin Welch becomes chairman as Patrick Headley becomes CEO of GI Solutions Group with a shake up to emphasis the ability to deliver across creative, data management and delivery.
