Managing director retires at Image Group

Thursday 08 July 2010

Steve Gillman has stepped down as Guernsey managing director of Image Group after nearly 30 years with the company.

Mr Gillman joined the company in its formative years, and has developed it into the Channel Islands’ only full service marketing communications agency. Now he has trimmed back his commitments at the company to three days a week as part of the handover of the Guernsey arm of the business to new MD Paul Carter.

Mr Gillman turned the business from a design and production studio into a pan-island integrated marketing business, delivering professional services in creative design, advertising, PR, e-commerce, fulfilment, research and print.

The company was formed in 1980 and originally based in Park Street in St Peter Port. Image moved to purpose-built premises, including a print workshop, in 1993, and soon expanded into marketing services.

Following expansion into Jersey after a tie-up with Jersey managing director Andrew Lewis, the company diversified into public relations, e-business and fulfilment. Now Image employs nearly 40 staff across both islands.

Mr Gillman will stay with Image as Group Chairman and remains an active director with sister companies IG Properties Ltd and the company’s e-business arm IEB Trading Ltd.

‘It’s been 30 years of fun and hard work and I’m looking forward to seeing the company grow further under Paul’s leadership,’ he said. ‘I’ve been involved with Image for half my life and while I’m looking forward to retirement, I’m pleased to stay involved too at an arm’s length.’

Mr Carter, currently Group Commercial Director, has a long history in publishing and advertising and was previously managing director of the Guernsey Press and a director of the Jersey Evening Post. He was recently appointed to the Council of the Chamber of Commerce, where he helps to develop communication strategies for Chamber’s various committees and lobby groups.

Mr Carter paid tribute to Mr Gillman.
‘Steve’s experience, knowledge and personality have helped shape the business and it is the blueprint that we will continue to follow,’ he said.

‘Image Group has been built on very firm foundations, by concentrating on service, reliability and cost-effective solutions for our clients. The fact that Image is the longest-established agency in the islands isn’t a coincidence; it’s a testament to the group’s commitment and investment in what we do.

‘We’ve been fortunate to work with a mixture of government, finance and commercial clients. We are respected enough to be trusted with established, conservative and sometimes confidential projects, but also considered creative enough to work with progressive clients in fast-paced and competitive consumer-driven markets.’

Andrew Lewis, Managing Director of Image Group Jersey, said:
‘I’ve enjoyed working alongside Steve and it is good news that he’s still going to be around helping to guide the group. His knowledge, particularly of commercial print, will continue to be invaluable to us as we look to invest in new print technologies in traditional and digital print.’