Darren Crane has joined Friedheim International as sales director, the first time the equipment distributor has had a role over the spread of all equipment handled.
Crane brings with him an extensive background in print, including stints at MBA and Anton Group and then Cambrian Printers, before leaving for Australia ten years ago. There he became account director for the books sector at Ive, one of the country’s largest print and marketing groups. Ive has, in recent years, transformed from a purely print operation into an integrated marketing business where print is one part of the offering.
It is this experience that will be welcome at Friedheim, where there is already a shift from print into packaging and a growing need for integration services. This can be seen with the integral role that Hunkeler plays in an automated finishing line, frequently used for book production.
The appointment will “facilitate growth and expand horizons for the company as we approach our 140th anniversary,” says Friedheim managing director Mark Bristow. “This new appointment will help Friedheim navigate the changing landscapes ahead and bring new business to the company.”
Crane has retained links in this country while overseas, keeping in touch with the likes of Anthony Thirlby, now joint owner of JDP, for example. Like Thirlby, Crane is an advocate of highly efficient operational management.
Originally from north London, he worked in turn for AE Simmons as a No1 and in the same role at The Magazine Printing Company, before joining MBA in 1996. He spent ten years at Anton as night shift production manager before moving to Cambrian Printers in Aberystwyth as production and operations manager. For the last six years he worked for Ive Group, latterly as sales and account director on the book market.
Friedheim has suffered the loss of the MBO agency this year but has experienced growth away from the mainstream of print with the likes of Marks & Spencer, JD Sports and other online retailers becoming customers.
