Former Paperlinx chief executive Andrew Price has lined up a new job in print management, taking over as Asia Pacific boss for worldwide outfit HH Global.
The colourful Australian print identity starts work on August 17, the day his Paperlinx non-compete expires, and will also join the $200m group’s board of directors.
Price, who was abruptly sacked in February just before the paper giant entered its downward spiral, was looking forward to some time off but was ‘gobsmacked’ by the HH offer.
“I had many offers from right across our industry, associated industries, and a PLC. I decided after the past few months at Paperlinx I needed a holiday and had my sights set on laying on a beach,” he tells ProPrint.
“CEO Robert MacMillan (not the Bob McMillan of Sydney print fame) and his team have put together an industry-leading offering that I believe fills a growing market need that the big end of town is crying out for.”
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Price will move to Hong Kong for the role and oversee operations in Australia, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and China.
“Our vision for the Australian business is to grow the business. We have been very selective about the type of business we go after and this will continue to be the case,” he says.
“If we cannot add significant value for the client we will walk away. Identifying the clients where we bring most value is an ongoing process.
“It is all about listening to the client and ensuring we deliver the most efficient solutions for their marketing supply chain.”
Joining HH Global puts Price back in print management where his rise began in the 1990s when he founded Stream Solutions and built it into a $100m business, before selling it to Toll in 2007.
“Print management has moved on in eight years, it's not the same industry,” he says.
“When I saw the systems that HH Global is offering its clients, I could see a whole raft of new opportunities, which is really what made me want to work with them. It is no longer about print, it is about a totally integrated marketing supply chain, which is exciting.
“Of course there will always be a need for print, but in the case of HH Global the ancillary offerings add enormous value to a client’s marketing supply chain.”
Price says he is also says it will be ‘refreshing’ to work with the ‘internationally respected’ HH board – following the drama of his rise and fall at Paperlinx and the widely-rumoured friction that likely led to his sacking.
“They are experienced, intelligent, trustworthy and commercially savvy businessmen who have long term commercial experience and a thorough understanding of the complexities of our industry,” he says.
“The board have had a long term vision and regardless of the bumps in the road, they didn't panic or waiver from their long term goals. Their vision is all about adding value to their clients marketing supply chain.
“Joining this board will definitely be an experience where I can learn from some very smart people.”
HH Global group chief executive Robert MacMillan praised Price's 30-years industry experience to ProPrint sister magazine PrintWeek.
"I've known Andrew a long time, back to when he was at Stream, where he built a fantastic business. We’ve always kept the dialogue open since those days,” he says.
“The Asia-Pacific business is of a size and a substance now that warrants an investment in bringing in who I think, in terms of Asia print management experience, is the perfect leader.”
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