Jason Oliver has become CEO of GE Additive, taking over from Mohammad Ehteshami, who will continue to advise on strategy before retiring later this year.
Oliver has proven expertise in leading inkjet-based technologies, having worked for Scitex’s Versamark division before going on to co-found Jetrion label presses, as well as helping lead Heidelberg’s inkjet press development. Most recently he was president of Dover’s Digital Printing Group, which boasts a number of digital textile printing companies, including MS Printing, the JK Group, with J-Teck and Kiian, as well as Sawgrass and Caldera. The last time I met him was over a beer at a Heidelberg event when we were both dodging the rain from a leaky roof while discussing the merits of Heidelberg’s B1 inkjet press.
Oliver will report to David Joyce, GE vice chairman, who commented: “We held a thorough search process and I’m confident we have the right leader to further develop GE Additive and establish the business as the leader in the industry.”
GE Additive has undergone rapid growth under Ehteshami, having acquired Concept Laser, Arcam and GeonX and invested heavily in research and development as well as expanding production facilities. Joyce noted: “What Mohammad has accomplished in one year is a business case for how to industrialize new innovative technologies utilizing GE resources across organizations and disciplines.” He will be a hard act to follow, but given Oliver’s proven track record I suspect that we’ll see quite a few more announcements from GE Additive during the course of this year.
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