David Savastano, Editor02.07.22
Bryce Kristo’s journey to INX International Ink Co. was a unique one. In 1991, he was working in public accounting for five years at PKMG Peat Marwick, and he was looking for a change in scenery.
“I was in the midst of a career change from public accounting at KPMG,” Kristo said. “I looked at several opportunities and found INX interesting. It was a new company as a result of Sakata INX’s strategy of acquiring some North American ink companies. I also liked that INX developed and manufactured a fundamentally important product with many applications.
“KPMG had helped Sakata INX with their acquisitions and I knew many of the people involved in the process who spoke very highly of the company’s potential,” he added. “I was hired as an internal auditor, a new position that allowed me to create my own program while reporting to senior management.”
Kristo’s initial responsibility was to perform operational and financial reviews of branch activities and to make recommendations for changes that were needed to establish, improve and ensure that company policies and procedures were followed consistently throughout INX.
His career path at INX International has led him through many key roles. He was the color systems manager in 1995. Other roles that he was involved with prior to 1999 were assistant treasurer and director of strategic planning and development.
In 1999, Kristo was appointed VP of finance; VP, CFO in 2004, and INX Board member as SVP finance/CFO in 2010. Most recently, he was named EVP, CFO and general affairs, basically managing the corporate office at INX International.
“I have been directly involved with many important company initiatives that reflect trends in the ink industry,” Kristo observed. “Some of my highlights include involvement in the final integration phase that consolidated INX and its culture led by Rick Clendenning; INX’s geographical expansion into Europe and South America; INX’s development of its Digital Ink Division; and more recently, helping to reshape our strategic focus on innovation.”
All the experience Kristo has had has allowed him to make significant contributions to the success of INX International and gave him a strong understanding of the ink industry.
He contributes to and has been the co-presenter of the NAPIM State of the Industry Report for the past few years. Kristo is currently the chairman for NAPIM’s Management Information Committee.
Kristo credits his colleagues with his success at INX.
“I’ve been fortunate to work closely with all of the presidents of INX International, including Jerry Braznell, Frank Moravec, Rick Clendenning, and now John Hrdlick,” he said. “Each one has certain qualities that influenced my understanding of the business. I have also worked closely with Sakata INX for many years and have a great admiration for Dr. Kotaro Morita, the former president of Sakata INX and our current chairman. On a more formative basis, Chuck Weinholzer greatly influenced my lasting interest in the industry, and Hiroshi Ota, the former chairman of Sakata INX, was influential in my understanding of the big steps that transform an organization.”
Kristo noted that he has seen a lot of changes during his 30 years in the ink industry.
“It’s been interesting to watch the industry grow from small regional entities to large global organizations, and how they must maintain sensitivity to the nuances of local interests,” he observed. “I think the biggest change has been adapting to the digitization of communication that is driven by the internet. I can’t think of any other industry that was more impacted by the disruption of the internet, yet still managed to thrive by applying its technology in other ways.”
Outside of work, Kristo enjoys family life.
“I have three boys who were interested in playing football,” he said. “I enjoyed coaching them at the youth level and continue to watch my former players, some of whom developed their skills at very high levels. I’ve always lived near Lake Michigan and have had a cabin cruiser for over 20 years. I enjoy the solitude and freedom one has on ‘The Big Lake’.”
Kristo said he was surprised to receive the Pioneer Award.
“Honestly, I was quite surprised. I do not come from a formulation or operations background, but I am very grateful and honored to be recognized by the industry for my contributions,” he concluded.
His colleagues weren’t surprised that Kristo received the Pioneer Award.
“I have known Bryce since he first came on board at INX, when I was a fledgling GM at our plant in Warminster, PA,” recalled Hrdlick, INX’s president and CEO. “Bryce dug into our business and quickly gained an understanding of our company and provided fresh insight into how we could improve overall. His unique financial, marketing and business sense has served us well over the years. Bryce has always been supportive to me, especially the past several years. I’m very happy to see him receive the Printing Ink Pioneer award.”
“Bryce once told me that he was raised in the south suburbs of Chicago and his father was a plant manager of a steel mill,” added Jim Kochanny, SVP, COO at INX. “He worked summers there during his college years and learned just how tough business could be. I believe his exposure to the hard-working steel workers and his time as auditor at KPMG gave him a special perspective on all aspects of business. He just ‘gets it’, which has allowed him to excel in his role as executive VP and CFO.”
“I was in the midst of a career change from public accounting at KPMG,” Kristo said. “I looked at several opportunities and found INX interesting. It was a new company as a result of Sakata INX’s strategy of acquiring some North American ink companies. I also liked that INX developed and manufactured a fundamentally important product with many applications.
“KPMG had helped Sakata INX with their acquisitions and I knew many of the people involved in the process who spoke very highly of the company’s potential,” he added. “I was hired as an internal auditor, a new position that allowed me to create my own program while reporting to senior management.”
Kristo’s initial responsibility was to perform operational and financial reviews of branch activities and to make recommendations for changes that were needed to establish, improve and ensure that company policies and procedures were followed consistently throughout INX.
His career path at INX International has led him through many key roles. He was the color systems manager in 1995. Other roles that he was involved with prior to 1999 were assistant treasurer and director of strategic planning and development.
In 1999, Kristo was appointed VP of finance; VP, CFO in 2004, and INX Board member as SVP finance/CFO in 2010. Most recently, he was named EVP, CFO and general affairs, basically managing the corporate office at INX International.
“I have been directly involved with many important company initiatives that reflect trends in the ink industry,” Kristo observed. “Some of my highlights include involvement in the final integration phase that consolidated INX and its culture led by Rick Clendenning; INX’s geographical expansion into Europe and South America; INX’s development of its Digital Ink Division; and more recently, helping to reshape our strategic focus on innovation.”
All the experience Kristo has had has allowed him to make significant contributions to the success of INX International and gave him a strong understanding of the ink industry.
He contributes to and has been the co-presenter of the NAPIM State of the Industry Report for the past few years. Kristo is currently the chairman for NAPIM’s Management Information Committee.
Kristo credits his colleagues with his success at INX.
“I’ve been fortunate to work closely with all of the presidents of INX International, including Jerry Braznell, Frank Moravec, Rick Clendenning, and now John Hrdlick,” he said. “Each one has certain qualities that influenced my understanding of the business. I have also worked closely with Sakata INX for many years and have a great admiration for Dr. Kotaro Morita, the former president of Sakata INX and our current chairman. On a more formative basis, Chuck Weinholzer greatly influenced my lasting interest in the industry, and Hiroshi Ota, the former chairman of Sakata INX, was influential in my understanding of the big steps that transform an organization.”
Kristo noted that he has seen a lot of changes during his 30 years in the ink industry.
“It’s been interesting to watch the industry grow from small regional entities to large global organizations, and how they must maintain sensitivity to the nuances of local interests,” he observed. “I think the biggest change has been adapting to the digitization of communication that is driven by the internet. I can’t think of any other industry that was more impacted by the disruption of the internet, yet still managed to thrive by applying its technology in other ways.”
Outside of work, Kristo enjoys family life.
“I have three boys who were interested in playing football,” he said. “I enjoyed coaching them at the youth level and continue to watch my former players, some of whom developed their skills at very high levels. I’ve always lived near Lake Michigan and have had a cabin cruiser for over 20 years. I enjoy the solitude and freedom one has on ‘The Big Lake’.”
Kristo said he was surprised to receive the Pioneer Award.
“Honestly, I was quite surprised. I do not come from a formulation or operations background, but I am very grateful and honored to be recognized by the industry for my contributions,” he concluded.
His colleagues weren’t surprised that Kristo received the Pioneer Award.
“I have known Bryce since he first came on board at INX, when I was a fledgling GM at our plant in Warminster, PA,” recalled Hrdlick, INX’s president and CEO. “Bryce dug into our business and quickly gained an understanding of our company and provided fresh insight into how we could improve overall. His unique financial, marketing and business sense has served us well over the years. Bryce has always been supportive to me, especially the past several years. I’m very happy to see him receive the Printing Ink Pioneer award.”
“Bryce once told me that he was raised in the south suburbs of Chicago and his father was a plant manager of a steel mill,” added Jim Kochanny, SVP, COO at INX. “He worked summers there during his college years and learned just how tough business could be. I believe his exposure to the hard-working steel workers and his time as auditor at KPMG gave him a special perspective on all aspects of business. He just ‘gets it’, which has allowed him to excel in his role as executive VP and CFO.”