Samantha Overton named ‘Leader of the Year’ in Yorkshire manufacturing

Print Solutions

Leeds businesswoman Samantha Overton has been crowned both ‘Leader of the Year’ and ‘Manufacturing Leader of the Year’ at the Yorkshire Leadership Awards 2026, recognising her outstanding contribution to the region’s manufacturing sector.

Samantha is managing director at family run print company Zebra Print Group.

Under Samantha’s leadership, the print specialist has gone from strength to strength, championing British manufacturing while delivering sustained growth and investment in people, technology and customer service. As a second generation leader – her dad, David Storr, set up the business in 2006 – Samantha has built on the company’s heritage while steering it confidently into its next phase of development.

The judges praised Samantha’s clear strategic vision, commitment to operational excellence and passion for nurturing talent within the manufacturing sector, recognising her impact not only within manufacturing but across the wider business community by awarding her the evening’s overall ‘Leader of the Year’ title.

Speaking about her award wins, Samantha said: ‘I am incredibly proud to have been named both Leader of the Year and Manufacturing Leader of the Year. It is a real honour to be recognised alongside so many inspiring leaders across Yorkshire.

‘These awards are a testament to the hard work, creativity and dedication of the entire Zebra Print Group team.

‘My dad has always been my biggest inspiration and the reason I have grown into the leader I am today, and the support he gave me played a huge role in my journey.

‘Manufacturing in Yorkshire has such a rich heritage and an exciting future, and I am passionate about playing our part in driving the industry forward.’

The ‘Manufacturing Leader of the Year’ category recognises individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership within a manufacturing or production based business, delivering measurable impact through innovation, investment and team development. Samantha’s additional recognition as overall ‘Leader of the Year’ further highlights the scale of her leadership impact across the region’s business landscape.

This double win further strengthens Zebra Print Group’s reputation as a proud advocate of UK manufacturing, with all printing and production carried out in the heart of Yorkshire. The business continues to invest in cutting edge print technology while maintaining its core values of quality, reliability and community engagement.