Robert Keane

Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Cimpress

Last Reviewed: October 1, 2026

Executive Summary

Robert Keane founded Cimpress in January 1995 and has run it as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for more than three decades. Cimpress calls itself the global leader in web-to-print mass customisation: letting small businesses order business cards, signage, packaging and branded merchandise online in small quantities at low cost. It now owns a portfolio of brands led by VistaPrint and reported $3.4 billion of revenue in its 2025 fiscal year. Before founding it he worked as a consultant to Microsoft, researching how small businesses designed and printed their marketing.

Career Highlights

• Founded Cimpress in January 1995; Chief Executive Officer and Chairman since then.
• Grew Cimpress to $3.4 billion of revenue in fiscal 2025.
• Executive at Flex-Key Corporation, a maker of keyboards, displays and kiosks for desktop publishing, from 1988 to 1994.
• External consultant to Microsoft’s Publisher desktop publishing team, researching small-business design and printing needs in Europe.
• Independent director of Astronics Corporation since December 2019.
• BA in Economics from Harvard College and MBA from INSEAD.

Professional Journey

Keane earned a BA in economics at Harvard College. He then spent nine years in management consulting and in general management at a small company engineering and producing custom electronic components for the defence and aerospace industries. Cimpress’s proxy separately records him as an executive at Flex-Key Corporation, an original equipment manufacturer of keyboards, displays and retail kiosks used for desktop publishing, from 1988 to 1994.

He went on to take an MBA at INSEAD in France. He also worked as an external consultant to Microsoft’s Publisher team, researching the graphic design and printing needs of small businesses in Europe.

In January 1995 he founded Cimpress. He has been its Chief Executive Officer and Chairman from the start. Cimpress describes itself as the global leader in web-to-print mass customisation, delivering affordable custom products quickly even in low quantities. Its brands include VistaPrint, WIRmachenDRUCK, Pixartprinting, Pens.com, BuildASign, druck.at, Drukwerkdeal, easyflyer, Exaprint, Packstyle, Printi, Tradeprint and BoxUp. Products run from marketing materials and business cards to signage, promotional products, logo apparel, packaging and photo merchandise. The company, now Cimpress plc, is incorporated in Ireland. It reported $3.4 billion of revenue in fiscal 2025.

Shareholders reappointed him to the board in December 2025 for a term running to 2028, and in August 2026 he signed the company’s annual report for fiscal 2026 as Founder and Chief Executive Officer.

Since December 2019 he has also been an independent director of Astronics Corporation, a supplier to the aerospace industry. He sits on its Compensation and Nominating/Governance committees.

Education

Harvard College

BA, Economics

INSEAD

MBA