Pantone and X-Rite Appoint Ondrej Kruk As New President

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., March 19, 2018 – X-Rite Incorporated, a global leader in color science and technology, and Pantone LLC, announce the appointment of Ondrej Kruk to the role of president. A proven Danaher executive, Kruk brings a combination of commercial and operational experience to Pantone and X-Rite. Kruk will lead the continued expansion of Pantone and X-Rite’s product and solution portfolio beyond color to material appearance.  

“I am extremely excited about the opportunity to lead a company with such a legacy of innovation in creating tools and technologies for color selection, communication, formulation and measurement,” said Kruk. “Pantone and X-Rite’s latest developments go beyond color, enabling customers to advance the creation, communication and delivery of color and appearance as they transition to digital processes and use more complex materials. Our ability to solve important customer problems, today and in the future, positions Pantone and X-Rite for long-term growth.”

“Ondrej is a proven Danaher leader with experience growing technology companies and working with global customers,” said Joakim Weidemanis, Executive Vice President, Danaher. “I am delighted to see him in this new role at Pantone and X-Rite, where he can leverage the Danaher Business System to open up new growth opportunities in this already strong business of color technology and appearance.”

For the last three years, Kruk has been the General Manager of Alltec, a Danaher business offering laser marking and engraving technology under the Alltec and FOBA brands. At Alltec, Kruk defined and executed on a multi-industry growth strategy. Kruk has also held numerous management roles at Videojet, a global leader in coding, marking and variable data printing solutions. He was instrumental in growing Videojet’s secondary packaging and product decoration businesses into mature global ventures.

Kruk earned his MBA from Harvard Business School and graduated from the University of Economics in Prague with a Master’s Degree in Economics. He has lived, studied and worked in several European countries, Latin America and the United States. He is fluent in Czech, English, German and Spanish.

About X-Rite
Founded in 1958, X-Rite Incorporated is a global leader in the science and technology of color and appearance. With Pantone, X-Rite employs more than 800 people in 11 countries. The company’s corporate headquarters are located in Grand Rapids, Mich., with regional headquarters in Europe and Asia and service centers across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas. X-Rite offers a full range of solutions used by manufacturers, retailers, printers, photographers and graphic design houses to achieve precise management and communication of color and appearance throughout their processes. X-Rite products and services are recognized standards in the printing, packaging, photography, graphic design, video, automotive, paints, plastics, textiles and medical industries. For further information, please visit www.xrite.com. For the latest news, information, connect with X-Rite on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

About Pantone
Pantone provides the universal language of color that enables color-critical decisions through every stage of the workflow for brands and manufacturers. More than 10 million designers and producers around the world rely on Pantone products and services to help define, communicate and control color from inspiration to realization – leveraging advanced X-Rite technology to achieve color consistency across various materials and finishes for graphics, fashion and product design. Pantone Standards feature digital and physical color specification and workflow tools. The Pantone Color Institute™ provides brand identity consulting and custom color services, as well as trend forecasting inclusive of its annual Color of the Year announcement, Fashion Color Trend Reports, forecast publications and more. Pantone B2B Licensing incorporates the Pantone Color System into different products and services, enabling licensees to communicate and reproduce certified Pantone values and improve efficiencies for their users. Pantone Lifestyle brings color and design together across apparel, home, and accessories. Learn more at www.pantone.com and connect with Pantone on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.

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