John Mills is stepping down as chief executive of flatbed inkjet printing technology company Inca Digital and plans to set up his own specialist business consultancy.
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| Departing Inca CEO John Mills (left) with Active Display Group's Stuart Gittus on a recent visit to celebrate the installation of two Inca Onset X-series printers with robotic stacking. |
Mills, who has led the UK-based Screen subsidiary for the past five years, will depart in early October and be replaced on an interim basis by former Screen Australia MD Akira Hayakawa, who’s currently Inca’s deputy chief executive.
Chief operating officer Matthew Negus and the Inca Digital management team will support Hayakawa in the role.
“My plan was always to lead Inca Digital for a period of five years, with a remit to turn the business into a leading digital player in the graphics market, as well as drive product innovation to put us in a commanding position to exploit the opportunities in a range of new sectors including the packaging and industrial markets,” Mills said in a statement.
“Led by the success of the Onset X series, we’ve grown to become one of the dominant players in the digital graphics market. With the launch of the Onset M last year and our single pass machines currently in development, Inca is on course to deliver the next generation of transformational inkjet technologies.”
Mills was in Melbourne in July at Active Display Group for the installation of two Inca Onset X-series printers with robotic stacking (X3 and X1), sold by Fujifilm.
“I believe I am leaving Inca Digital on a firm footing to take on the challenges of the future and I’m very proud of what we have achieved as a business during my time here,” Mills said.
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| New interim Inca Digital CEO Akira Hayakawa in Sydney |
“John has been instrumental in turning Inca Digital into a world-class and internationally respected inkjet business over the past five years,” said Hayakawa. “We thank John for his outstanding contribution to the business and wish him every success in his future endeavours. We remain fully committed to all our customers across the graphics, packaging and industrial markets as we prepare the company for the next phase in its growth.”
Negus told FESPA.com that Mills had a key role in developing the Inca business and its reputation for pioneering technology. “He oversaw five great years of growth and technology innovation and the Inca management team will continue to build on this legacy.
“We have a strong presence in the graphics market and a rapidly growing one in the packaging and industrial markets. These markets will continue to be our focus.”
Negus said Hayakawa would take “a leading role in driving the business for the foreseeable future. Akira Hayakawa knows the business well. He and the management team have the experience and strategic ability to drive Inca forward.
“We will take our time to find the right permanent chief executive.”
