Page 74 - Print21 March-April 2022

People in Print
the OVERflow
Peter Clark becomes new PVCA president
Former founder and owner of heatset web business AIW, Peter Clark, is the
new president of Print & Visual Communication Association.
Kuhn Corp owner Walter Kuhn, who held the presidency for the previous two terms,
is now vice president, with Spot Press managing director John Georgantzakos honorary treasurer, and Stuart Fysh, managing director of Perth- based The Label Factory, the honorary secretary.
Peter Lane, owner of Lane Print in Adelaide, returns to the PVCA board, representing SA. The full board now also includes Tom Eckersley representing Queensland; Nick Tuit, chair of the Kwik Kopy owners association, for NSW; Kevin Pidgeon from Lithocraft for Victoria; and Martin Guilliamse, general manager at Mark Media, for Tasmania.
Clark identified the ongoing Covid pandemic, and supply,
as the key issues facing print businesses that he says PVCA is currently helping members to address. He said, “PVCA exists to support its members and promote the industry. Covid absenteeism is a major issue for print businesses at present, and we ran a webinar on HR issues surrounding that, and will be
Print a great industry:
Peter Clark, new president of PVCA
doing more. Supply of paper, inks and consumables, and price increases, is also causing concern to members, and we are supporting them in that.”
Clark is also a member of
the PacPrint board, and the Media Super board. He said, “We are all looking forward to a successful PacPrint.”
Clark enjoyed a stellar career in print. He started as an apprentice lithographic
platemaker and lithographic printer at Cox Kay in Hobart, and became a manager, at the age of 27, of Fleetprint, also
in Hobart, then established
his own small offset printing business, which he sold in 1979 and moved to Melbourne.
He progressed over the next 35 years through various large national and international companies, in manufacturing, printing, packaging and
papermaking, such as Smorgon Consolidated Industries, Visyboard, News Ltd and PMP.
In late 2000, along with industry colleagues, he co- founded AIW Printing, a new heatset printing business, which began operations in early 2001, and at the time
was rated as one of the most advanced heatset printers in the world. AIW set the pace with profitability, automation and innovation in the heatset web printing industry in Australia, and achieved an annual turnover of $125m. The Springvale-based plant ran exclusively with the natural rainwater, collected from the expansive roof area. AIW
also pioneered the use of full and part recycled papers, and ultra-lightweight paper, for catalogues.
In 2008, under his direction, AIW installed one of the world’s largest heatset wide-web presses, a Goss Sunday 4000, 80-page web press, with a 2060mm web width.
He said, “Print is a great industry. I am delighted to be able to continue to play a part in it, and to contribute to its development and well being.”
The PVCA presidency is a one year term, it can be extended by two further years. 21
Evan Foster steps up to global director role
After 12 years leading the Signarama sign franchise brand in Australia, Evan Foster has been appointed global director of its parent company United Franchise Group, responsible for Signarama and all its other brands.
The newly created position will see Foster work with Master License Partners of United Franchise Group around the world, covering all nine affiliated brands, including Signarama.
Foster will retain his current responsibilities for Signarama Australia on top of his new
role, until the company finds a replacement, for which it is now actively recruiting.
Global role: Evan Foster
Ray Titus, CEO, United Franchise Group, said, “Evan has played a significant role in building the Signarama brand in Australia into the powerhouse it is today at 100 locations. Knowing exactly
what it takes to develop the infrastructure, develop and grow the network, and most importantly how to work with franchisees to ensure their success, all combined with Evan’s natural interest in different countries and their cultures makes him the ideal person for the role.
“We couldn’t be more excited about the future of United Franchise Group around the world and its continued success.”
As well as Signarama, Foster will be responsible for Fully Promoted, Transworld Business Advisors, Venture X, Jon
Smith Subs, The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, Graze
Craze, Network Lead Exchange and Preveer.
United Franchise Group was founded by Titus in 1984 and currently has 1600 franchisees throughout the world. Foster will be responsible for Master License Partners across the nine brands in 60 countries, including New Zealand, the US, Canada, Mexico, Malaysia, Singapore, India, South Africa, France, Spain, the United Kingdom and Australia.
UFG has 660 Signarama stores around the world, 375
of them in the US, 100 in Australia, and 185 elsewhere. It is the biggest signage franchise in Australia. 21
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