Xaar appoints new CEO

As of 5 January this year, Xaar (Cambridge, UK), the world-leading inkjet printing technology group, has a new CEO.

Doug Edwards (pictured), previously President, Digital Printing and Enterprise at Eastman Kodak Company and a member of the executive board of Kodak since 2006, takes over from Ian Dinwoodie, who as announced in March 2014 will retire from Xaar this year after serving as CEO since 2003.

Edwards, who holds a BSc in Chemistry and a PhD in Conducting Organic Materials from London University, started his career in the UK in technical roles at a variety of companies (Ilford Limited, ICI, Zeneca and International Paper) before moving to the United States in 2001 with Kodak Polychrome Graphics (a joint venture between Sun Chemical Corporation and Kodak). 

Xaar's Chairman Phil Lawler thanked Ian Dinwoodie for his "significant contribution to Xaar since joining the company in 2001". He welcomed Doug Edwards, "whose appointment will strengthen Xaar, providing the experience necessary to lead the company through its next stage of development".

Doug Edwards commented: "Excellent progress has been made by the company over the last decade but the future opportunities ahead of the company in the world of digital printing are substantial, and I am pleased to return to the UK to take up this challenge".