Angmering man appointed livery company's leader

Tom Hempenstall, from Angmering, who has been installed as Master of the Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers

Mr Hempenstall is the former publisher of industry journal, Metal Bulletin.

A spokeswoman for the Stationers’ Company said his credentials were ‘exactly right for the role of Master’, adding: “He is a very successful and well-travelled businessman. He was with Metal Bulletin plc for 39 years, the final 12 as chief executive.

“He took up that role when the company had a market capitalisation of about £20m and left when the company was sold to Euromoney Institutional Investor plc for £223m.

“He also successfully oversaw the company’s move from a paper-based to a digitally-based publishing business model and has been involved in some of the debates on methods of information dissemination and the protection of intellectual property in the digital age at Stationers’ Hall.”

In what are described as ‘rare moments of leisure’, Mr Hempenstall is an avid supporter of Worthing Rugby Club, Wasps and the England rugby squad and is working on improving his golf.

He is also non-executive chairman of the Espresso Education Group, providing digital education material to schools in the UK, Sweden, Canada and the US.

With the Stationers’ Company he has a busy year ahead, boosting the organisation’s charitable support, extending its international links, helping to develop a Stationers’ Academy school and ensuring the maintenance of the 17th century Stationers’ Hall.