Garry Muratore finishes up with Agfa

High-profile industry marketer is the latest cost-cutting casualty in marketing across the industry.

The well-known identity ended his association of 25 years with Agfa after PacPrint. His last role with the troubled company was to organise the Melbourne exhibition stand.

One of the most professional marketing managers in the graphic arts industry Muratore (pictured) has a track record of innovative and creative campaigns. Marketing the Belgium-based company from its heady days of brand pre-eminence in photography and prepress to its current inkjet strategy, he has a number of memorable promotions to his name.

Prominent among them is the occasion when, working with Ron Paterson, then Agfa graphics manager, now with Printing Industries Victoria, they landed one of the first imagesetters into the centre of the MCG by helicopter. The fanfare created went a long way to bringing the then new technology to the attention of the industry.

He was also the mover behind the installation of the Agfa hot air balloon outside a number of industry shows.

In recent times he has witnessed the downsizing of staff and a cutback in marketing budgets of the company, which has staked its future on the UV inkjet market. The Agfa consumer photographics division was sold off some years ago, while an abortive attempt to sell its health products division stalled with the global financial crisis.

The graphic arts division is still one of the big three, along with Kodak and Fujifilm, in terms of printing plates and the dwindling film market.

The well-liked Muratore is reportedly talking with a number of industry players about his future. Having worked with him over the years the Print21 people would like to wish Garry all the best in the future. He can be contacted on GarryMuratore@iprimus.com.au