newsmakers
- Vocollect has named its co-founder, chairman, and chief operating officer, Roger Byford, as its new chief executive officer. He replaces Jack LeVan, who is leaving the company. Byford, who served as Vocollect's CEO from 1987 to 2001, has spent more than 20 years working with industrial applications for voice technologies.
- FKI Logistex has promoted Matt Wicks to vice president of systems engineering for FKI's Manufacturing Systems group. He has been with FKI since 1998, most recently as director of systems engineering. Wicks' promotion follows a recent consolidation of the Systems and Conveyor Engineering groups within Manufacturing Systems.
- Toyota Material Handling U.S.A. has hired Jeff Reid as national information technology manager. He will be responsible for research, development, and management of all technology-related systems and activities. Reid previously was vice president of Conexant Systems.
- Penske Logistics has announced several management appointments. Jeffrey Stoicheff is the new senior vice president of human resources, based in Reading, Pa. Etienne Visser has been chosen for the new position of vice president of global transportation management, based in the Netherlands. He will be in charge of the company's worldwide freight and shipping products. And Edward Kitt is now vice president of distribution center management. Based in Michigan, Kitt is responsible for Penske Logistics' distribution and warehousing services.
- SkyBitz, a satellite-based asset-tracking and information management company, has hired Dr. Homaira Akbari as CEO. Akbari, who also joined the company's board of directors, was most recently with TruePosition. He brings more than 17 years of sales and marketing, product development, and operations management experience to SkyBitz.
- Purolator USA has named Bruce Dimler manager of information technology. He previously held jobs at Cablevision, CFS Bank, and American Express.
- KSW Microtec, a supplier of RFID components, has named Thomas Hitzer CEO. He previously had been overseeing a number of the company's activities, including sales, business development, marketing, and product development.
- Pat Peplowski is the new executive vice president of sales and marketing for Tarpon Industries' SpaceRak Division. SpaceRak manufactures engineered steel storage rack systems. Tarpon has also hired Douglas Edwards as vice president of operations for SpaceRak. He previously served as the director of engineering and manufacturing at a competing rack company.
- Accu-Time Systems, a manufacturer of workforce management, time and attendance, and security access products, has named Joseph Benvissuto customer support manager. He comes to the company from EMC Corp., where he served in the same capacity.
- Paradigm Group, a supply chain service provider specializing in the institutional and facilities market, has announced two recent hires. Harry Brix is Paradigm's new procurement director, responsible for working with the company's vendors and handling contract negotiations. Joseph Gannon joins Paradigm as inventory control/supply chain manager and will oversee receipts processing, warehouse location stocking practices, and inventory control.
- Derek Fain is the new senior vice president, transportation business development at Ozburn-Hessey Logistics. In this newly created position, Fain will oversee domestic transportation business development for the third-party logistics service provider and coordinate with the company's contract logistics and international services divisions to create global solutions for clients.
- Larry Layden has been appointed vice president of sales for Terra Technology, a maker of demand-sensing and optimization solutions for consumer products companies. Layden has more than 24 years of business experience, including 11 years working on demand-driven supply chain solutions for IBM.
- Circumference America Inc. (CAI) has appointed Greg Harrison vice president of sales for Radius Rail Logistics, the company's intermodal subsidiary. Harrison will be responsible for developing the company's truck-rail-truck service offerings.
- Macquarie Capital has hired Robert Scavone as managing director. He previously had been the executive vice president and general counsel at Ports America. In his new role, Scavone will oversee Macquarie's interest in North American ports, including the TTI/Hanjin terminals in Long Beach, Oakland, and Seattle.
