Andy Benson, former director of Sony UK, is the new managing director of Duplo UK, succeeding Peter Jolly who last week announced his departure to HP Indigo. He starts almost immediately.
Benson was at Sony for 25 years, starting as a graduate trainee and having jobs across the business becoming operations and commercial director of Sony before running the Japanese company’s consumer operations as managing director of Sony Nordics, covering Scandinavia and Finland. In the last three years he has run his own consultancy business.
He will take up the new role, working alongside Jolly for a brief handover before Jolly leaves at the end of the month to join HP Indigo. “He will work alongside Peter for three days,” says Duplo International chairman Robin Greenhalgh. “I am relieved and excited that we have found someone to continue Peter’s good work.”
Benson’s experience of working for a Japanese company put him in good stead. “And we have a certain Duplo way, which he fits into,” says Greenhalgh. “These were what helped distinguish him from other candidates.”
Benson professes no direct knowledge of the printing industry and the technology it uses. At some point in his career at Sony he had responsibility for marketing literature for the consumer goods operation, but this did not involve understanding digital printing let alone finishing equipment.
This is not important, says Greenhalgh. “He is very enthusiastic and understands the importance of print and how it remains relevant in today’s world. He does not believe it’s dying.”
He will also be surrounded by experienced sales and service people who will be able to help during the steep learning curve leading to the Print Show and then Ipex where he will be as much centre stage as the new products that the company will show.
“We can give people the skills, not to he attitude to they need to have. We have plenty of people who understand print in our business and that is not necessary. What we were looking for was someone who understands business and someone to add value to our customers.” Greenhalgh is sure he has found the right man.
By Gareth Ward
Andy Benson will become managing director of Duplo UK, based at the headquarters in Addlestone. In his previous job, Benson was based only a few hundred metres away at Brooklands. But it took a recruitment specialist in Birmingham to find him says Duplo International chairman Robin Greenhalgh.
