Print Solutions
Ryan Miles will be the new managing director of Heidelberg UK and head of Cluster Northern Europe, a region which includes the UK, South Africa, Sweden and Denmark. Ryan is currently managing director of South Africa and will relocate to the UK with his family and is due to take up the post from 1 April 2019.
Ryan succeeds Gerard Heanue, having reported to him for the past five years, and has the greatest respect for him. ‘Gerard is a true gentleman and can be very proud of his achievements,’ he said. ‘He has an ability to create and steer true growth and the past five years have been the most fulfilling of my career.’
That career has included roles as finance director of Kodak SA and group chief operating officer of Itec SA. Ryan studied accountancy at university and attained his articles before entering the business world in 1998.
‘Having been in the technology, industrial, telecommunications and graphic arts industries has helped me build broad experience and I continue to grow and develop my leadership skills,’ said Ryan. ‘If I have any regret it is that I didn’t join Heidelberg sooner!’
Ryan’s leadership style is described as ‘open, transparent and action orientated’ and he is very customer minded.
‘Heidelberg UK must continue to develop and innovate in order to provide the best value to its customers, whose needs are always evolving. Our service and support must remain world class and we need to ensure customers can take maximum advantage of the digitised world and the advanced technology that Heidelberg can offer,’ said Ryan.
He recognises differences between the South African and UK markets. In South Africa there is still an oversupply of production capacity and there is a continuing consolidation. The UK is largely through that phase and is one of the most productive printing markets in the world.
Gerard Heanue said, ‘Ryan and I have worked together for five years and I have seen the great job he has done in revitalising the organisation there so I had no hesitation in proposing him to the Heidelberg Board for the UK role. He is a good team player, very bright and future-focused. He is the right man to take the organisation forward.’
