Former Blue Star boss predicts bright future under Selig and Sturgess

Former managing director Phillip Bower said he would keep a keen eye on Blue Star, despite leaving print to become head of direct investments at Industry Funds Management.

The print group has now been split into two, after Geoff Selig bought the Australian operations and Tom Sturgess acquired the New Zealand business.

"Blue Star is an outstanding business with an outstanding management team," Bower told ProPrint.

"I had a really outstanding 12 months at Blue Star. I really enjoyed working there. They're a fine bunch of people. I'm really pleased we've got a successful outcome. The business has been passed on to new owners who have much better balance sheets."

Bower said managing the sales process was a challenging task – mainly due to Blue Star's debt burden, but also because of industry gossip.

[Related: Bower joins Blue Star]

"In the print industry, there's more scuttlebutt than I've seen in any other industry. I don't know why. People are always having views on other people's businesses. There's just a lot more noise out there than in any other industry I've been in."

Blue Star marked the first print role for Bower, who previously held directorships at Unitas Capital, Independent Liquor NZ, Godfreys, MCK Group and Goodman Fielder between 1995 and 2011.

He said he wanted a new challenge after the group was sold, but was open-minded about where to find it.

"I didn't make any definitive decision to leave print. I was approached to join this organisation and did so," he said.

"The basic fundamentals [in any business] are the same, which are to focus on your customer and employees, and if you do that you will provide a good result to your shareholders."

[Related: Ups and downs of Blue Star]

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2 thoughts on “Former Blue Star boss predicts bright future under Selig and Sturgess

  1. “Blue Star is an outstanding business with an outstanding management team,” Bower told ProPrint.

    “I had a really outstanding 12 months at Blue Star. I really enjoyed working there.”

    – So outstanding we went under! Really Outstanding!

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