New Leadership for Heidelberg's Digital Printing, VLF Units

Jason Oliver has been appointed head of "Digital Printing" at Heidelberg, replacing Dr. Christian Compera, who left the company at the end of last year. Oliver, previously EFI's senior director of Jetrion sales, will be responsible for all of Heidelberg's Linoprint systems, with the goal of expanding the company's digital business. A U.S. citizen with a Master of Business Administration, Oliver has held numerous executive positions for various North American and European digital printing companies since 2000.

Heidelberg has also named Stefan Hasenzahl to oversee the newly founded "Very Large Format and Postpress Packaging" business area. This unit pools all the company's activities associated with the large-format Speedmaster XL 145 and XL 162 presses and postpress systems for the packaging printing sector. Hasenzahl was previously responsible for establishing the Chinese manufacturing site operated by Heidelberg in Qingpu near Shanghai, which he ran until summer 2012. Before taking up his new role, Hasenzahl managed an internal strategy project at Heidelberg headquarters. He has been working at Heidelberg since graduating in engineering in 1988.

"We have gained two executives with international experience for areas that are of great strategic importance to Heidelberg," says Stephan Plenz, a member of the management board responsible for Heidelberg equipment. "Stefan Hasenzahl played a key role in the successful establishment of our manufacturing site in Qingpu. Jason Oliver is an expert in digital printing systems and in selling these products worldwide.

"The appointment of these two executives underlines the commitment Heidelberg has made to the large format and packaging printing/digital printing business areas," Plenz continues. "It also carries forward our program of expansion in these areas."