Visual Print’s MD moves To Solopress
Graham Hunstone, managing director of recently acquired print provider, Visual Print & Design, has been hired as head of partnerships by fellow UK printer, Solopress
James Cropper has announced the hiring of a new brand owner director, alongside launching a new colour range and vowing to “own the future of colour in paper”
British paper manufacturer, James Cropper, has detailed the appointment of Mickael Minot as its new brand owner director of its Paper & Packaging division, amidst a series of announcements including the launch of a new coloured paper range.
Minot has been appointed to a newly created role, with the company aiming for accelerated growth in the luxury packaging sector.
Based in Boulogne-Billancourt, Paris, Minot will spearhead James Cropper’s global brand-owner partnerships, with the aim of guiding multidisciplinary teams to deliver new paper innovations at scale.
Prior to joining James Cropper, Minot held senior roles including global sales manager at Toly Products and senior key account manager at JUJIN New York, where he specialised in luxury packaging for fashion, beauty, and spirits brands.
Speaking about his appointment, Minot says: “James Cropper has been a benchmark for luxury packaging throughout my career. When this opportunity arose, it immediately felt like the perfect next chapter.”
Minot made his first customer-facing appearance for James Cropper at this year’s Luxe Pack Paris exhibition, where he introduced Rydal Eco, James Cropper’s newest uncoated board material made from recycled paper fibres.
Alongside the appointment, James Cropper recently announced the launch of Coloursource, a range of 50 signature shades of paper material available in nine weights and 36 embossed patterns designed for a variety of applications.
As part of the revamp of its coloured paper shades, the company declared a desire to keep its production in the UK while evolving with industry demands, with managing director, Paul Barber, stressing that "this is not a refresh – this is a declaration.”
In a statement in July, Barber was quoted as saying: "We were the first to produce coloured paper, and we’re proud of that legacy, but we’re not here to look backwards – we’re here to own the future of colour in paper.”
The UK paper manufacturer has also issued an open invitation to any interested party to visit its mill in the Lake District, which has been James Cropper’s home for almost two centuries, to experience its colour development process first-hand.
The launch of Coloursource was announced on social media with the slogan: “Putting the ‘U’ in colour.”
In its statement about the new range, James Cropper adds: “At a time when many suppliers are cutting back colour options or moving production overseas, James Cropper is doubling down on its UK roots.”
