The winds of change: 26 September

Lots more faces moving up and around this week as Meg Whitman to take Léo Apotheker’s top seat of HP plus Helge Hansen hands his Koenig & Bauer CEO post over to Claus Bolza-Schünemann earlier than expected.


HP reshuffles top deck

Following the resignation of Léo Apotheker after 10 months in the role, HP has announced that Meg Whitman will take over the top job and Ray Lane has moved up to executive chairman of the board of directors.

According to Lane, the company is fortunate to have someone of Whitman's caliber and experience step up to lead. "We are at a critical moment and we need renewed leadership to successfully implement our strategy and take advantage of the market opportunities ahead.

“Meg is a technology visionary with a proven track record of execution. She is a strong communicator who is customer focused with deep leadership capabilities. Furthermore, as a member of HP's board of directors for the past eight months, Meg has a solid understanding of our products and markets,” he says.

Speaking on behalf of the board, Lane says that while appreciative of Apotheker’s efforts since his appointment last year. It believes the role of CEO now requires ‘additional attributes’ to continue the company’s strategy. “Meg Whitman has the right operational and communication skills and leadership abilities to deliver improved execution and financial performance,” he adds.




Helge Hansen to leave KBA earlier than expected

Voluntarily advancing his retirement as president and CEO of Koenig & Bauer AG (KBA), Helge Hansen will hand over the reins to his successor Claus Bolza-Schünemann at the end of October 2011.

According to supervisory board chairman, Dieter Rampl, the proposal has been accepted and the board wishes him the best for the future. “We are expressly grateful to Helge Hansen for the fruitful cooperation, his great personal commitment and his excellent work for the good of the company.

“Despite the very difficult circumstances, Helge Hansen has, with great expertise and his many years of experience, furthered the sound development of both earnings and finances at Koenig & Bauer AG, and has helped to position the company group for a successful future,” he says.

Rampl says Bolza-Schünemann has all the qualifications necessary to take the helm, as he has served as deputy president with executive responsibility for engineering and web press manufacturing.

Stepping into the vacant position, CFO Dr. Axel Kaufmann will take on the duties of deputy president alongside his financial responsibilities.




Agfa turns focus to South West sales

Agfa Graphics has strengthened its sales position with the appointment of Steve Marshall as sales manager for South Australia and Western Australia. He will also continue in his role as manager for newspaper printing in the Oceania Region.

Also moving up is Harry Kontogiannis, who has been chosen for the position of digital imaging and workflow solutions manager. This role includes commercial printing imaging systems and workflow, and wide format inkjet imaging devices.