Thirlby and Rae team up for new buy-and-build venture Jo Francis Friday, March 5, 2021 Former Heidelberg executives Andy Rae and Anthony Thirlby have teamed up on a new buy-and-build venture – the duo have already made their first acquisition and have more buys in their sights. Thirlby and Rae: duo plan to capitalise on their know-how and networks Rae and Thirlby’s Venn Holdings completed the deal to acquire John Dollin Printing Services yesterday evening (4 March). The buy was backed by Compass Business Finance. The pair worked together for a number of years at Heidelberg. Thirlby is the former managing director of ESP Colour and was then chief operating officer at Pureprint before joining Heidelberg, where he spent nearly three years and became global senior vice president for the commercial segment and head of subscription sales. After leaving Heidelberg in early 2019 he focused on his consultancy business.