appointments 
Having turned Coates’ New Zealand operation into a streamlined, money-making operation in recent years, former general manager, Ian Johns, said farewell to staff and customers in New Zealand in February, as he headed for a new post based in Sydney. In his new role as web director, Johns will take responsibility for web operations in New Zealand, as well as Australia and Southeast Asia. He will be based in Sydney.

Johns’ performance in New Zealand was outstanding. Under his stewardship, Coates New Zealand became one of the most profitable operations in the Asia / Pacific region.

In the last few years, the company’s New Zealand revenue base has grown by around 50 per cent, including the addition of some particularly important contracts.

Johns is modest about his achievements: "It was a matter of putting a plan in place, then going ahead and doing it", he says.

He has spent more than three decades in the printing business, almost half of which has been with Coates.

Carl Pagano, who was based in Coates’ Sydney office, in charge of web business for Australia and New Zealand, has moved to Perth to take up the reins as state manager for Western Australia. He will also act as web export manager.