A heavyweight sales chief has been brought in to spearhead business development at a print and direct mail group with ambitious plans for its recently acquired Bradford operations Andrew Keighley will lead the new business development and sales operations at Laisterdyke-based St Ives Direct Bradford, which was acquired in an £8 million deal last month by investment firm Cogent B2B.

Cogent B2B also owns Prospect Mailing Services at Wyke, Bradford, and plans to merge the two businesses.

The businesses operate alongside Griffin Direct Marketing, which has offices in Leeds and packaging supplier Boxco. Cogent B2B is building a specialist production and marketing business that is looking for more acquisitions.

Bradford-born Mr Keighley, 55, has become sales director at St Ives Direct Bradford, which he joined four months ago. He has a 39-year track record in the print and production sector including board roles in the United States and the UK in recent years. Cogent B2B chief executive Kevin Dunstall said: “I am working hard to bring on board the most experienced print and production management team.

“Andrew’s credentials with more than three decades of experience and a fantastic track record in the industry make him the ideal candidate to lead the sales function.

“After just four months with the company he has already become a great asset and he has made a huge impact.

“He is already transforming the new business and sales functions and we expect the team to grow rapidly under his leadership.”

St Ives Direct Bradford serves public sector customers as well as supplying some of the UK’s leading brands in a range of sectors and handles 75 million pieces of marketing correspondence a month.

Mr Keighley has overseen seen new contract wins from blue chip clients worth £7 million and is leading the firm’s growth through acquisition of new clients as well as growing the range of services offered to existing customers.

Mr Keighley said: “It is fantastic to be coming back to Bradford after so many years away from home I am excited to be taking the new business reins of a company that is integrating into a wider group of complementary businesses that share the same ambition.”

Mr Dunstall recently told he T&A that there were plans to recruit a further 300 staff as part of the merger of two Bradford operations.