Bob Lockley is new printing chief for Fairfax

Following the merger between Fairfax and Rural Press there was always going to be stiff competition for the role of leader of the printing pack. The enlarged organisation boasts one of the most impressive arrays of printing facilities in the country. Rural has 16 web-press sites scattered throughout the country while Fairfax has three, including the massive Chullora and Tullamarine metropolitan press halls.

Lockley, formerly general manager printing at Rural Press is recognised as one of the most accomplished pressmen in the industry. Since his former boss, Brian McCarthy is now running the newspaper and magazine side of Fairfax, it was always likely he would get the job of extracting the efficiencies that must flow from the merger.

The difficulty of the task should not be underestimated as the pay rates and the industrial culture of the two groups are very different. The Fairfax printers have a much more militant history than the Rural workers, with the most recent stop work incident taking place at Chullora only a couple of months ago.

Lockley joined Rural Press in 1984 and over the years he has directed construction and upgrades at all the company’s printing plants as well as significantly growing the external printing business.

His appointment is one of a number announced by the company with most of the new executives coming from Rural Press as McCarthy moves his people into key positions.

Lloyd Whish-Wilson, formerly general manager for Rural Press, based in Canberra, rejoins the company as chief executive and publisher, NSW and ACT metropolitan publishing, basically taking the role of Fairfax Media executive James Hooke, who is leaving the company.

Don Churchill, a Fairfax executive in charge of The Age, gets the nod as chief executive and publisher, Victorian metropolitan and community publishing.

Two other Rural Press execs make the team; Grant Cochrane, is chief executive, Australasian agriculture publishing, while Allan Browne is chief executive, regional publishing, southern and
western, which includes all the regional titles in Victoria, Tasmania,
South Australia and Western Australia.