Tony Roberts, the very popular director of independent sales at UK Greetings, is to leave the company to join IC&G in a newly created post as sales director, but he will take with him lots of happy memories of his many years with the publisher.
“I have loved being a part of the UKG team and owe so much to the company. Joining IC&G gives me a great opportunity to work with the co-owners Simon and Ian Wagstaff to help develop the business that has independent retailers at its heart,” commented Tony.
Tony joins IC&G in June, but is looking to ensure a smooth handover with whoever takes up the role at UKG.
“I have really loved working with Tony, he’s such a great operator and we will miss him,” commented Jayne Myers, commercial director of UKG. “We are currently recruiting to find the right person to be the next Tony Roberts and head up the independent sales team.”
“I started my career in the industry with Celebration Arts [a fore-runner to UKG] in 1984 as a Birmingham area sales rep. Apart from five years when I joined Ling, followed by a few years with Minds Eye, I have spent the majority of my time with the same company. I thought I would be here until I retired but hey ho, at the ripe age of 59 an opportunity with IC&G came up that I could not resist,” says Tony. “I will of course miss the UKG team, but I feel privileged to become a part of another team.” At UKG Tony headed up a team of over 70 people – 32 sales reps, 14 sales coordinators, six area managers and 23 in the internal customer care team. At IC&G, he will be working with the co-directors as well as the company’s team of agents that cover the UK.
Simon Wagstaff, co-owner of IC&G, is very much looking forward to bringing Tony into the company. “Tony will be a welcome addition to our team, his experience will help us to develop IC&G without losing its ethos as very much a family-run company which has its focus on providing strong products and great customer care to our independent retail customers.”
