Arcam and BASF Announce Departures of Top 3D Printing Executives

There’s never a dull moment in the world of 3D printing executives, as the industry’s movers and shakers are…well, moving and shaking. Recently, Rize appointed Andy Kalambi as its new President and CEO, and now executive-level news has been announced concerning two major 3D printing companies – Arcam AB and BASF.

Last September, GE announced its intention to acquire Sweden-based metal additive manufacturing provider Arcam, well-known for its innovative Electron Beam Melting (EBM) technology. GE completed its purchase of 76.15% of the company in December 2016.

Earlier this year, Arcam, looking forward to its future with GE, decided to separate its EBM business from Arcam AB, and placed it in the new Arcam EBM unit. Arcam EBM has sales and service operations in several different countries, including the US, where the company’s President and CEO Magnus René moved in 2015 to better focus Arcam’s efforts on the country’s metal 3D printing market.

Now the GE Additive company has announced that René, along with CFO and Deputy CEO Johan Brandt, is leaving Arcam.

“Magnus René has with energy and decisiveness built Arcam to a leading company in the Additive Manufacturing sector. He has together with his team, customers and partners worldwide developed the company from a start-up to a global industry. Magnus has also been instrumental in bringing Arcam into its new future with GE as an owner,” Arcam Chairman Göran Malm said.

“Johan Brandt has as CFO and deputy CEO built the structure of the company and thereby facilitated our growth and globalization. Johan has with his leadership and his team developed first class management of Arcam’s and our subsidiaries financial functions.”

Both René and Brandt have terminated their employment agreements with Arcam after long tenures – René has been the CEO since 2001, while Brandt was hired as the CFO in 2012.

“I have had a fantastic journey, being part of the team building Arcam during those 16 years. Today, Arcam is well positioned, with a great team, world-class products, strong leadership in our companies and a strong cash position after the recently concluded share issue,” René said. “With GE as majority owner this is a good time for me to move on and for a new CEO to take over and develop the company in the new environment.”

With a notice period of six months, René will continue on in his position until Arcam appoints a new CEO, with his latest departure date set as June 3rd, 2018. Brandt has a three-month notice period and will remain at Arcam until April 30th, 2018, unless the company appoints a new CFO before then.

In other 3D printing executive news today, BASF New Business GmbH, together with its wholly-owned subsidiary BASF 3D Printing Solutions GmbH in Heidelberg, Germany, is also announcing an important change in personnel.

The global chemical company, which is one of HP’s materials development partners, has announced that Commercial Director Dirk Simon, who has been guiding the global chemical company’s 3D printing activities for the past five years, will be leaving BASF, effective March 31st, 2018, in order to, as BASF writes, “take on a leading role in a smaller company within the 3D printing industry.”

“To avoid any potential conflict of interests, we unfortunately need to remove Dirk from the front line of collaboration with our partners in the 3D printing industry,” BASF New Business Managing Director Volker Hammes wrote in a letter to the company’s partners. “With immediate effect, Zhizhong Cai, Senior Account Manager 3D Printing Industry will report directly to me.”

According to Hammes’ letter, BASF regrets that Simon is leaving, but makes sure to note that the company still trusts him to continue in his role as Commercial Director, and develop business that will benefit the company’s customers, until the time of his departure.

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