Presstek makes executive management changes

Presstek has named Stanley E. Freimuth as its new chairman, president and chief executive officer, with Arnon Dror appointed vice president, chief financial officer (CFO) and treasurer.

Freimuth takes up his position from February 13 and replaces Jeffrey Jacobson (pictured, above), while Dror starts in his role on February 9 and replaces Jeffrey A. Cook. Both Jacobson and Cook are leaving Presstek to accept new positions elsewhere, with Jacobson to take up the role of president at Xerox Global Graphic Communications.

Freimuth spent nearly 25 years with the global imaging giant Fujifilm, where he initially ran the company's US graphic systems business for 17 years and went on to serve as chief operating officer and senior executive vice president and chief administrative officer, with responsibility for all Fujifilm businesses in the US. In this role he was instrumental in leading the company's transition from an analog to digital business model.

Freimuth has served on the Presstek board of directors since 2009. He has also served as chairman of the board of the Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies (NPES) and as chairman of the Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC).

Dror comes to Presstek with a broad range of financial, operations and industry experience, most recently as director of worldwide channel management for Eastman Kodak Company, and has held several other executive level operations positions at Kodak. He previously served as vice president of finance for Creo, Inc., a global US$1 billion provider of imaging systems and software technology for computer-to-plate (CtP) and digital printing. In this worldwide finance executive role, Dror led all aspects of accounting, treasury, planning and analysis and tax functions for Creo, which was acquired by Kodak to create Kodak's Graphic Communications Group.

Edward E. Barr, the Presstek board's lead independent director, said: ‘The Company is fortunate that we have two such talented individuals who are so well positioned to take the company forward. Stan has been one of the foremost executives in the graphic communications industry for many years. His depth of knowledge gained from leading one of the largest companies in the industry - in addition to his first-hand involvement in defining the strategic direction of Presstek over the last several years - brings a strong vision for the future of Presstek.

‘We are also pleased to be able to have Arnon assume the role of CFO. Arnon brings a rare combination of both executive operations and executive finance leadership experience from within our industry. He will be an outstanding addition to the Presstek team.’

Freimuth said: ‘I want to thank Jeff Jacobson who has done an outstanding job of steering the company through the most difficult waters in the memory of our industry and emerging still on course and once again picking up steam. I look forward to working with the amazing team at Presstek as together we help our customers succeed by bringing them the best digital solutions in the marketplace.’

Barr added: ‘The board is indebted to Jeff Jacobson and Jeff Cook for guiding the company safely through an incredibly difficult period created by the economic recession. They leave the company well positioned to take advantage of its broad product portfolio, headlined by the versatile 75DI digital offset press. We know they will both be successful in their upcoming roles, and we wish them the best.’

For more news on Presstek, click here