Snap CEO Stephen Edwards has resigned, confirming via email correspondence that today will be his last day serving the print franchise group.
Edwards has not disclosed the cause of his resignation, but says, “It is a difficult decision as I have loved my time at Snap and have devoted so much of my time to the network. The company is doing well and has a bright future. There are some great people in the company and I wish them all well.”
Australian Printer has attempted to contact Edwards but did not receive a response by deadline. Snap is the country’s biggest print franchise group, with more than 150 stores, and operations in China, New Zealand and Ireland.
Edwards has been with Snap for 15 years, starting his tenure with the company in 2001 as chief operating officer before being appointed CEO in November 2011.
During that period he rebranded the business as Snap, dropping the word print from its title as the company sought to enable its franchisees to expand new markets including building websites. He has also been instrumental in introducing new technology to Snap.
Profit last year was up four per cent on the year before, and the chain added six new stores taking it past the 150 marker. Edwards said expanded non-print services, its new IT system rollout, improved processes and a reviving retail print market are all contributors. "Short run on-demand digital print is booming and we are able to get better margins because it is a convenience product and we have improved our sales and marketing process to be more competitive,” he says.
Edwards said Snap is unveiling a greeting card portal and will enter the mobile phone app market following its major rebrand earlier this year. He said, “We want to be a big supplier of apps, of any kind. There is no number one app supplier in Australia so it might as well be us."
During his time Edwards was responsible for the establishment of the Group’s Transformation Strategy, Brand renewal, Project DNA, the biggest IT investment in the Company’s history and establishing a multimillion dollar corporate accounts program for the Group
As CEO Edwards has handled several controversies surrounding Snap franchises such as the collapse of the Bankstown Snap which owed $340,000 when it went into administration in December 2014, and a partnership dispute which saw Australia’s biggest Snap franchise, CBD Printing fall into administration in 2012.
Outside of Snap, Edwards was also a prominent leader of the industry, serving on the PIAA Board from 2014 until his sudden departure in February which was part of the mass exodus of Board members which shook the PIAA earlier this year.
Commenting on his departure, Snap Board director Peter Russell says, “We all know and respect Stephen as a tireless and enthusiastic advocate for Snap Printing amongst all our stakeholders.
“Stephen has decided it is time to devote himself to other interests he has and, needless to say, we wish him well in these endeavours and no doubt he will pursue those with all the energy that we are familiar with.
“We wish him all the best and thank him for the major contribution he has made to Snap throughout his career with us.”
The Snap Board is yet to reveal Edwards’ replacement.
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