PCS has won major new business on the back of developments in its Knowledge content management and publishing solution and its property marketing system, PropertyNet.
(Pictured: PCS Managing Director Phil Walker is flanked by Keith Hemmings and (right) Simon Weare)
While the details remain under wraps for the time being, says PCS, the scale of the change has prompted the restructure, leading to appointments in the key areas of development and customer service.
Long-serving database specialist Keith Hemmings becomes Development Manager, while Simon Weare, who has had a number of customer-facing roles within the company, consolidates that experience as Client Services Manager.
Keith (57) joins the senior management team with overall control of product management and will sit between the product teams and the board of directors.
After graduating from Sheffield University in 1976, Keith worked first for Marconi Space and Defence before starting on a more than 30-year career in publishing systems programming, integration and development.
That began at Linotype Paul, and continued at QED – later IPA Systems – where he was Technical Director.
He has been with PCS for more than 10 years with roles in contract management and support.
Thirty seven-year-old Simon takes responsibility over all customer-facing and software implementation staff.
He started with PCS as a junior 13 years ago, working in Technical Services. He has worked in a variety of departments, including Contract Management with the PropertyNet, MotorNet and ART products.
His strong technical skills have also taken him into the areas of Technical Services and Field Engineering within Editorial and Advertising, but always in a customer facing and customer focused role.
Announcing the changes, Phil Walker, PCS’s Managing Director, said: “Five years ago we undertook a tough but necessary restructure which was designed to take costs out of the business while strengthening our development capability.
“Now as we move into our 40th anniversary year, we’re reaping the benefit of that restructure by winning orders and expanding into different markets.”
He added: “It is significant new business that will keep us very busy through 2013 and beyond. To meet that challenge we needed to reset our focus at management level and, by appointing Keith and Simon to the senior team, we’ve continued our philosophy of not only bringing in new talent where necessary, but of promoting from within where the skills exist already.
“Keith and Simon have huge experience within and outside PCS and are recognised in the wider industry, too. They are the right people to fulfil the liaison role between the board and the product and implementation teams and we’re looking forward to a very successful future beyond our 40th birthday.”
About PCS
PCS says: “Press Computer Systems Ltd is part of the Claverley group of companies, a British media and publishing group, which includes the Wolverhampton Express & Star, the Shropshire Star, Precision Colour Printing, and the Guiton Group in the Channel Islands.
While enjoying the backing of a major publishing group, PCS operates as a totally independent company, fully respecting the confidential nature of its relationship with each customer.
The company was formed in 1973 and today PCS is a leading systems supplier to the UK publishing industry with a comprehensive suite of proven integrated systems specifically designed to maximise the potential efficiency and profitability of information publishing.
By maintaining a position at the cutting edge of technology PCS is committed to developing systems that help customers to push their business forward both in terms of revenue and technology."
