PEOPLE / NEWS Dragon Group appoints new operations director Dragon Group, the parent company of signage company, Dragon Signs, has appointed Chris Strong as its new operations director, as part of the group’s goals to accelerate into its next phase of growth. The group has bases in both England and Wales, with offices in Cardiff and Radstock, near Bath. As well as Dragon Signs, the group includes outdoor advertising agency, Route Media, exhibition and display specialist, Colour Studios, and magazine publications, Sportin Wales and BusinessIn Wales. Strong, who first joined Dragon Signs in 2022 as head of operations, enters his new role with more than 16 years of experience in signage, construction, and operations leadership. Before joining Dragon Group, Strong held roles at Morgans Consult, On Point Brand Installation, and Galaxy Shopfitting, with an additional background in the Royal Engineers corps of the British Army. In his new role, Strong will lead operational delivery across all business areas, with a focus on driving efficiency, supporting innovation, and embedding consistent processes across the organisation. Strong will also take on responsibility for health and safety and ISO requirements across the portfolio. Speaking of his new role, Strong says: "This is an amazing company which is growing all the time – it's a pleasure to work alongside so many talented people and help take the business forward. "Since I joined, we've seen huge advances, from moving into new headquarters to taking on more clients and expanding the team. I'm excited to now play a broader role in helping shape our future." Rhys Harrington, managing director of Dragon Group, adds: "Chris has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, commercial vision and a deep understanding of our Group's mission. "The promotion is a natural progression and reflects the value he brings to our team and our future. Chris has already introduced innovative systems and processes that have improved collaboration and productivity across the board. His journey is a testament to his dedication, work ethic, and deep understanding of our industry." The appointment follows a period of significant investment by Dragon Group in recent years, including an upgrade of its software and print machinery. Colour Studios was purchased by Dragon in 2023, with a new director of the group, Rowan Freeman, appointed in 2024. UFABRIK appoints new European sales director Digital textiles manufacturer, UFABRIK, has announced Monika Mourao as its new European sales director. Mourao arrives at the role with 23 years of experience in the industry, with her most recent role being sales development manager at EFI. Having begun her career selling banner media and flag textiles for screen printing, Mourao went on to join Gandi Digital, manufacturers of the grand-format AquaJet family of printers. As general manager for Poland at Gandi, she helped introduce 3.2m and 5m wide AquaJet printers and related textiles to the European market. After Gandi Digital was acquired by Agfa in 2010, Mourao became sales manager in Poland for the Jeti and Anapurna printers, developing relationships with a range of media suppliers and customers across the region. She established her own distribution business in 2012, 4Printers, which focused on textile printers, consumables, and accessories. 4Printers became the first dealer for Berger textiles in Poland, Czechoslovakia, and the Baltic state. Mourao previously worked at EFI, Agfa, and Gandi Digital Chris Strong [centre] first joined Dragon Signs in 2022 as head of operations By Jonathan Pert By Jonathan Pert Astra Group hires new technical lead Astra Group has announced the appointment of Patryk Wojciechowski as its new head of technical innovation. The appointment is the latest in a series of senior hires and promotions for the Manchester headquartered business. This includes the hire of David Mulligan in April to the role of managing director of its Signage and Digital division. In his new role, Wojciechowski will be responsible for identifying emerging technologies, collaborating with clients, and spearheading the development of new digital signage solutions. He will also provide leadership and guidance to Astra Group’s team of software developers and support engineers, as the business increases its UK and international footprint. Wojciechowski enters the role with over ten years of experience in software development, having led the development and launch of a number of B2B and B2C platforms prior to joining Astra Group. Wojciechowski will be responsible for spearheading the development of new digital signage solutions By Jonathan Pert 14 email: editor@signlink.co.uk Issue 261 - October / November 2025
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