New position to drive commercialization of DataLase business

Tokyo, October 10, 2017 – SATO, a leading global provider of Auto-ID solutions that empower workforces and streamline operations announced that it appointed Atsushi Suzuki as CTIO (Chief Technology & Innovation Officer). The CTIO position was newly created and will report directly to the CEO with the mission of accelerating commercialization of the inline digital printing (IDP) business and growth of future core businesses.

Suzuki holds a PhD in engineering from MIT and has 35+ years’ experience with numerous companies in Japan and the United States. In addition to Japanese manufacturers like Konica Corporation (currently Konica Minolta, Inc.) and Kobe Steel, Suzuki also has professional experience at numerous companies including Polaroid and Brooks Automation, where he was tasked with team management and business development for acquired companies. His experience as vice president at ZINK Imaging, a full-color printing technology venture, spun out from Polaroid, involved leading R&D and business development for its inkless printing technology. SATO expects these valuable skills will help it deliver on the promise of its IDP business.

SATO acquired the IDP business and added it as a core pillar to its mid-term plan in 2017. The Group set as its objective to establish sustainable growth and profitability of its “revolutionary materials” business comprising Econano and the IDP color-change pigment. Suzuki will lead the IDP business worldwide with his deep understanding of new technologies and business promotion to realize the SATO Group mid-term objectives.

“My mission is to commercialize the IDP technology with speed,” said SATO Holdings CTIO Atsushi Suzuki. “I am confident I can utilize my background in business and tech development to contribute to sustainable growth for the SATO Group. I believe SATO’s business culture of ‘ceaseless creativity’ aligns with my own and I am committed to driving innovation that meets the needs of modern customers.”

“Bringing on seasoned professionals like Atsushi Suzuki helps us execute our mid-term plan by generating synergy between existing solutions and new technologies like IDP,” said SATO Holdings President and CEO Kaz Matsuyama. “As the world around us changes rapidly, it is a matter of corporate survival that we innovate to stay ahead.”