Paul Reilly, a founding partner of New Direction Partners, an investment banking and financial advisory firm in the graphic communications industry, will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Print & Graphic Communications Association (PGCA), formerly Printing Industries Alliance. The award will be presented at the Franklin Event, March 30, 2023, in New York.

Since it’s founding in April 2009, New Direction Partners has completed over 300 transactions representing over $4 billion in sales value.

Reilly’s industry career began in 1978 with Polychrome. He left that company as general manager of the Americas and Southeast Asia in 1993. Shortly thereafter, with business partner, Jerry Mahoney, they grew the Jersey City envelope company, Pavey Envelope & Tag into Mail-Well, a NYSE listed firm. That began an acquisition spree that grew Mail-Well into Cenveo, one of the largest printing firms in the world. He served as president & COO from 1998 to 2001 and accepted the role of president & CEO and board chair until he left the company in 2005. Over time, Cenveo acquired over 200 companies, giving Reilly a deep understanding of the M&A market.

Reilly’s career extends far beyond the mergers and acquisitions marketplace. He has generously given his time and expertise to a variety of companies and association boards of directors and is a frequent, and very much in demand, speaker at industry association events across the country. In late 2022, he announced his intention to transition into retirement by stepping back from full time engagement at New Direction Partners. 

Along with honoring Reilly’s career and achievements, the 2023 Franklin Event will feature additional industry awards, plenty of networking opportunities with industry leaders, and of course, presentation of the Franklin Award for Distinguished Service to Mariano Rivera.