Beattie (pictured) has come full circle from his days as a print finishing apprentice in Auckland to become CPI’s New Zealand sales manager of machinery, a position to be based in the same city.

“My main responsibilities will be machinery sales and working closely with our support staff to ensure our existing customers receive the best possible service,” said Beattie. He added that he is pleased to be back in New Zealand with family.

Beattie will focus on innovative machinery solutions for CPI’s clients. He said that digital finishing machines are selling well and he is confident their popularity will continue to increase in the New Zealand market. He believes large presses and specialised equipment that boost revenue will always have their place in the printing industry.

Richard Beattie entered the printing industry when he moved from Christchurch to Auckland with his family in the mid-’80s. “I did a print-finishing apprenticeship at a fairly large commercial printing firm there. After finishing my trade qualifications, I returned to Christchurch and I took on the role of running a bindery in a local printing firm. From there, I worked in several well-known Christchurch printing firms.”

“I’ve been with CPI for 11 years. I started in Melbourne in 1998 as a bindery demonstrator. I was transferred to the Sydney office in 2001 with the same role, and was promoted to the role of national product manager, print finishing, in late 2006.”

“Because I’ve worked in many areas of the industry, basically from the ground up, I’ve got a fairly wide view of what customers require; I can see it from the inside. I worked in literally hundreds of firms around Australia and New Zealand when I was a demonstrator, so again I’ve got a wide experience of all the different aspects of printing in those two countries.”

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