Alex Forsyth has been appointed the new managing director at family firm Forsyth and Steele, and said he is looking to steer the business into a new era with upcoming investment opportunities.
He takes the helm from his father, the company’s co-founder Ian Forsyth, who will continue to play a role as director and consultant while taking a step back in preparation for retirement.
The Blackpool-based print business will celebrate its 40th year in 2026.
Alex Forsyth previously worked for the company across print finishing and in distribution and officially took up his new role on 1 September. Talking to Printweek, he praised the legacy his father built for the business.
He said: “He’s worked hard over the years to build a really good reputation for the company, for quality and the service that we provide. Not only to the local businesses we work with but also for the bigger national ones. So I want to continue that.”
After attending the Print Show in Birmingham last week, the company is looking to invest in large-format kit and in a bigger booklet machine, with a focus on streamlining production and upping productivity going forward.
Commenting on his first visit to The Print Show, Alex Forsyth said: “It was nice to put names to faces, seeing suppliers and manufacturers and looking at the different machinery out there that we can potentially invest in.”
The business has six members of staff working at its circa-230sqm factory unit. The kit lineup includes a Ricoh digital press and a range of finishing equipment, including a Matrix laminator with foiling and a Morgana bookletmaker, which the team is currently looking to upgrade.
Working across the North West, key customers for the printer include the public sector and education as well as print management and design agencies.
The company was founded in 1986 by Ian Forsyth Robert Steele. Robert Steele retired from his day job in 2018, while continuing as a director. Ian Forsyth said he was “incredibly proud” of what the business had built since it started.
“Passing the reins to Alex is a milestone moment, and I know his vision will carry Forsyth and Steele forward whilst maintaining its core values,” he added.
