Bettine Pellant has named her retirement date after more than ten years as CEO of Picon. She will be succeeded by Iain Bullock, who led Renz (UK) through to the acquisition of the German business by Plockmatic in August last year. But not immediately.
Pellant will lead the trade association for the next six months and will be shadowed by Bullock for her final three months to ensure a smooth changeover on 1 October.
The step has been prepared for over the last two years when Pellant told the Picon Council of her plans for retirement. Bullock was an obvious candidate.
“He is well known in the industry, approachable and he understands the challenges faced by graphic arts companies, especially SMEs,” says Pellant. The fact that Renz has few direct rivals and has worked alongside other finishing equipment suppliers has helped with that reputation. In recent years, he moved Renz from operating its own warehousing and supplies operations to a 3PL model and moving the business to managed offices. This resulted in significant savings for the business and improved service levels.
Bullock joined Renz UK after Ipex in 1993, at a time that the show was owned by the trade association. He became sales manager in 2001 and managing director in 2004 and has represented Renz as a Picon Council member since 2019.
Pellant had joined Picon to arrange the association’s participation at Drupa in 2007 having previously worked for Manroland GB. She followed Tim Webb as CEO in 2015 becoming the Picon’s fourth CEO after Webb, John Brazier and Geoffrey Crellin.
The sale of Picon in 22006 provided a windfall for the association allowing it to invest in training including PrintIT to provide school students with a taste of print. It has also supported apprenticeships for member companies.
Bullock will continue this support as well as continuing the structure of focus groups, educational sessions and social events. Bullock says: “Graphic arts has undergone rapid and significant change and my ambition is to help Picon and its members proactively drive change rather than simply reacting to it.
”I also want to: continue to expand existing business support opportunities for members; facilitate closer cooperation with relevant industry bodies; and develop Picon’s training grant and work experience placement programmes. The aim of Picon must always be to support and provide the benefits our members need.”
