Peter Morris, CEO of Friedheim UK, has been appointed Chairman of Picon, the UK association of print industry manufacturers and suppliers. Peter was voted in to the two-year post at the Picon AGM on Friday July 1st.
Taking over the Chairmanship from Brian Filler, MD of Screen UK, Peter emphasised the need for manufacturers and suppliers to continue the fight to lobby banks and government to support the UK print industry, and to improve skills within it. “Picon’s members span the full spectrum of industry supplier from large household names to many small to medium specialists. Not only does this give Picon a persuasive collective voice and influence, but it also enables us to take strong and positive practical action to support and develop the industry. It’s important for everyone involved in print to keep up the pressure to improve investment, training, and above all, confidence,” he said. “I am looking forward to the challenges ahead and introducing several Picon initiatives which will benefit both manufacturers and printers.”
“Peter’s tremendous experience, passion and energy for the industry will make him a very effective Chairman of Picon over the next two years,” says Brian Filler. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my tenure with my personal highlights being the formation of the active Picon Digital Focus Group, reflecting the industry’s accelerating transition to digital, and a rejuvenated Ipex last year which brought a level of renewed confidence.”
Peter has been part of the print industry since 1962 when he was an apprentice in the mechanical bindery of a Birmingham printer. Following a period as a paper salesman he joined Oscar Friedheim as an area salesman in 1971. Apart from a two-year break in the mid-seventies setting up two separate trade finishing companies, Peter has worked at Friedheim, progressing through the company to become MD of Friedheim International in 1999. Following a management buyout by Peter and Mark Bristow in 2005, Peter became CEO of the company.
The Picon Council comprises Peter as Chairman, plus: Bob Usher, Apex Digital; Tim Klemz, Compact Engineering; George Clark, Heidelberg; Ron Chambers, Kadant; Christian Knapp, KBA; Robert Flather, Kolbus; Neil Sutton, Komori; Quen Baum, Morgana; Andreas Schillinger, Muller Martini; Brian Filler, Screen UK; Gerry Mulvaney, The Danwood Group.
