PhotoBox Group Strengthens Board with Two Major Appointments

LONDON, May 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Douglas McCallum appointed as Non-Executive Chairman and Hein Pretorius as Non-Executive Director 

PhotoBox Group, parent of the PhotoBox, Moonpig, PaperShaker, Sticky9 and Hofmann brands, is pleased to announce the appointment of the former Senior Vice President and General Manager of eBay Europe, Douglas McCallum, as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board; and former head of Naspers Europe, Hein Pretorius, as a Non-Executive Director. These appointments strengthen the organisation and reflect the Group's ambitious growth plans as it seeks to consolidate its foothold in the personalisation market, enter new markets and broaden its innovative product offering.

Commenting on the appointments, PhotoBox Group President & Chief Executive Officer, Stan Laurent said:  "As two international digital pioneers, Douglas and Hein  will play a critical role in strengthening our governance and our Board experience. Their track record in developing digital businesses organically as well as through international M&A matches perfectly our Group strategy. I have no doubt that their extensive experience, at the very highest level, will prove to be invaluable as we strive towards joining the billion-dollar club.

Douglas brings more than 20 years of experience as an investor and global digital business leader. He is currently Chairman of trainline.com and is also a non-executive director of Ocado Plc, where he chairs the company's remuneration committee. Douglas scaled eBay in the UK from 350,000 users to 15 million in just a few short years. In 2008, he took on EMEA, 50% of eBay's global revenues, where he devised and implemented a turnaround strategy that enabled the business to win back market share and grow eBay Europe to a $16bn business. Douglas is also a member of the Cabinet Office's Digital Advisory Board and is President and Founder of eBay for Charity.

Douglas commented:

"I have always had something of a passion for personalisation and in many ways have made my career in the internet for over twenty years now leading the charge to making affordable personalisation a reality for consumers. Today it is a large and fast growing market, but one in which only the most innovative businesses thrive. 

The PhotoBox Group of companies are all ambitious innovators, continually developing new and exciting products that their customers, including me, love to buy and share, so I'm truly delighted to have been asked to join as Chairman. 

PhotoBox is already the market leader in several countries across Europe, but there remains huge potential for it to grow further and faster, innovating and disrupting its way into becoming a very large business; I am greatly looking forward to helping it succeed in this mission." 

Hein has led a number of successful technology businesses and is an experienced board member, currently serving as both the Executive Chairman of the Spil Games Group and Non-Executive Director for The Cloakroom. As CEO of MIH Internet Europe and the Allegro Group (Naspers), Hein carved out a reputation as an international M&A expert by managing the acquisitions of Markafoni Group, Netretail Group and eMag, increasing revenues for the European portfolio from $188m in 2008 to $2.6bn in March 2013.

Hein added: "I am a huge fan of curated and personalised eCommerce which PhotoBox Group personifies in its business model and core values.  PhotoBox is a sector leader in Europe and I am excited to join the company when there is such a massive growth opportunity. I am particularly attracted to the entrepreneurial approach of the business and its personal 'service trumps everything' approach."

About PhotoBox Group 

The PhotoBox Group is a leading digital consumer service for personalised products and gifts in Europe and parent of the flagship branded retail channels PhotoBox, Moonpig.com, PaperShaker, Sticky9 and Hofmann. From photobooks and unique artwork to the very latest personalised apparel, gifts and greeting cards, the Group's products enable customers across 22 countries to share memories, celebrate great moments and inject personal expression into their everyday lives. The Group has 870 employees across Europe, generated turnover of £175.3m in the fiscal year ending April 2014 and is backed by leading international private equity firms including Insight Venture Partners, Index Ventures, Highland Capital Partners, HarbourVest Partners, Quilvest Ventures and Greenspring Associates.

For more information about us, please visit http://group.photobox.com

For further information please contact:

FTI Consulting, LLP
Matt Dixon / Ollie Pratt / Harry Staight
+44-(0)20-3727-1000