Blackwood businessman Darren Coxon has been elected as president of the British Printing Industries Federation.

Mr Coxon, managing director of Pensord, joined the board of the BPIF as a non-executive director in 2013, serving as vice president since March 2015. He was elected president in December 2016 and will officially take up the role at BPIF Members’ Day on July 4.

Darren is the managing director and majority shareholder at Pontllanfraith-based Pensord, one of the UK’s leading magazine print companies. Joining the company in 2002 as commercial director he has overseen its turnaround from a £6m turnover loss making position to a profitable business consistently turning over more than £12m.

In 2010 he led a management buy-out of the business with operations director Karl Gater and the business has gone on to record some major milestones with record sales in 2011, BPIF Print Company of the Year in 2012 and PrintWeek Customer Service Team of the Year in 2016.

Previously Darren had operated at senior management level for a number of years, predominantly in the sheet fed magazine sector, having developed through the ranks from a pre-press apprentice way back in 1990.

Darren said: “I am delighted to accept the position of president. I believe the role of the BPIF is very important to our industry. Highly visible are the quality services it provides for member companies and not so apparent is the great work that goes unseen, like the lobbying efforts within government to ensure print and related industries remain at the heart of government thinking.

"It is my intention to make a positive difference during my tenure and help to ensure the BPIF continues to provide great member services and stays entirely relevant to the transforming and great industry it serves.”