Major industry players make key appointments

ANDREA HOHERMUTH. Propelled Brands (Carrollton, Texas), a multi-brand franchisor platform, has named a new president for its premier franchise brand, Fastsigns International. With over 20 years’ experience, Andrea Hohermuth has broad experience in franchising, technology, operations, and leadership, and has been integral to the modernization of multiple companies. Utilizing strategic vision and design to deliver on large-scale initiatives, she has a proven track record of overseeing departments and leading teams through transition and growth. Prior to Fastsigns, she held the role of Chief Operating Officer of Threshold Brands, a multi-brand franchisor in the home services industry, for which she was instrumental in structuring. She has also served as the Senior Vice President of Technology & Operations and later the Chief Operating Officer at MaidPro, the inaugural brand of Threshold Brands, and one of the top 10 franchise companies ranked by Forbes.

DAVID McBETH. GEW, a leading manufacturer of UV systems for label and narrow-web printing, will now be represented across Canada by DTM Flexo Services (spare parts and services for Canada will continue to be supplied by GEW). Based in Stoney Creek, Ontario, DTM Flexo was founded in 2013 by David McBeth, who has worked within the global printing industry for over 35 years. The company offers solutions for Flexible Packaging CI Presses, Label, Shrink Sleeve and Mid Web Press markets across Canada and represents many leading brands in the industry – including Omet, SOMA, BST and Lundberg. It also supports Canadian customers with Waste Management, Plate Sleeve Mounting and De-mounting, 100% Visual Inspection Systems, Anilox Rolls and Sleeves, Anilox Roll Cleaning Systems, Anti Bounce Plate Sleeves, Carbon Fibre Bridges, Pneumatic/Hydraulic Adaptors and more. “We are delighted to have been selected by GEW to represent its range on UV curing systems in Canada. With the introduction of LED technology, the GEW product lines fit perfectly with our strategy of solution providers, sustainability, and process improvement for our Canadian clients in narrow-web flexographic printing.”

FRANK PENNISI. EFI (Electronics For Imaging), a global leader in digital industrial imaging has appointed Frank Pennisi, a veteran of the industrial and technology sectors, as Chief Executive Officer. Pennisi comes to EFI from Orora Packaging Solutions, a provider of custom packaging solutions with an emphasis on corrugated. While managing Orora as its President and CEO, he was an EFI customer, using EFI’s industry-leading Nozomi single-pass inkjet, super-high-speed digital printer. His experience with EFI solutions extends to the close collaboration and consulting he has had with Orora Packaging’s sister company, Orora Visual – one of the largest North American users of EFI VUTEk display graphics and EFI Reggiani industrial textile digital printers. Previously, he spent two decades in leadership positions at FLIR Systems (now Teledyne FLIR), Honeywell, and GE.

ROBERT WELFORD. The Flint Group (Lier, Belgium) has appointed of Robert Welford as President of Xeikon’s Digital Division. Stepping up from his current position as Vice President of Research & Development, Welford “will now lead Xeikon through the next phase of success.” He joined Xeikon in September of 2018 and took over the management of Research & Development, with broad responsibilities overseeing engineering operations, the ink and toner competence centers, and the print process and project management office. As new President, he’ll further leverage these competences and his solid background in the printing industry, as the company accelerates the industrialization of its broad product line and continued integration with the Flint Group.

TOM VENDETTI. Kernow North America (Pittsford, New York) a global leader of digitally printable synthetic substrates, has appointed Tom Vendetti as Direct Sales Manager for North America. Having spent many years in the graphic arts, paper and film industries, “he brings the necessary knowledge and experience to make an immediate contribution to Kernow’s aggressive growth plans in North America,” the company added. “This newly created position and expanded sales focus will only help to develop more satisfied customers to add to our current mix.” Vendetti will provide the additional expertise to help broadly commercialize Kernow’s print solutions with its North American customers, while promoting the supplier’s line of products – including the KernowPrint for HP Indigo line of printable synthetic materials featuring Cobalt Coating Technology, FloorSharK and the MetaliK range.