Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group has named Haixiang Shen as chairman and executive director of new Greater China Region
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Eastman Kodak Company’s Graphic Communications Group (GCG) is establishing a new Greater China Region and has named Haixiang Shen as its chairman and executive director. The formation of the Greater China Region and INSEAN Region brings a sharper focus to Kodak’s delivery of graphic communication solutions across Asia. The Greater China Region will be headquartered in Beijing, and includes China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.Shen will head the Greater China Region and report to Jeff Jacobson, chief operating officer GCG, vice president Eastman Kodak Company. The INSEAN Region, led by Garron Helman, managing director, will now be headquartered in Singapore, and includes Australia and New Zealand, India, South Korea and Southeast Asia.
“With the addition of Mr Shen and the formation of the Greater China and INSEAN regions, Kodak’s Graphic Communication Group has the right leadership team and vision in place to meet customer needs,” Jacobson says.
“China is experiencing explosive growth, and Asia is as diverse as any region in the world. Our new structure strengthens Kodak’s ability to support customers in every corner of China and Asia.”
James Langley, president GCG and senior vice president of Eastman Kodak Company, says the move is part of the company’s overall growth strategy for China and Asia.
“Kodak sees tremendous potential to assist customers in continuing to develop the Chinese graphic communications industry,” says Langley. “We are creating the Greater China Region to meet the growing needs of customers in this vast and unique marketplace.
Langley says Shen is known as a technical innovator and prior to joining Kodak, he served as president of China Printing (Group) Corporation.
“Mr Shen is a true leader of the China graphic communication industry, and he brings great depth and knowledge to Kodak’s strong leadership team in China,” he says.
In his last role, Shen received numerous prestigious industry accolades, including the Bi Sheng Award, the highest honour in the Chinese printing industry, the National Outstanding Technology Expert Award, and in 2004 he was named one of the ‘Top Ten People in the Graphic Arts Industry’ by China trade media.
Shen played a key role in research and development, leading to a number of technological advancements in China and around the world. The first Chinese language desktop publishing system was developed under his leadership, as was the development of the most comprehensive Chinese fonts system in the world.
His involvement in the development of China’s PS plate automatic production line resulted in a Chinese Ministry-level first prize Technology Innovation Award.
Shen has a degree in computer science from Tsinghua University’s Department of Automatic Control. He was a visiting scholar in the University of Maryland Computer Science Department in the early 1980s and returned to China to play a key role in upgrading the country’s domestic printing technologies.
In 1985, he became president of China Academy of Printing Technology (CAPT) and helped turn CAPT into a pioneering research entity and a technology-oriented profit-making organisation, providing comprehensive printing technology consulting, printing standard formulation, printing quality testing and information services.
He is an advocate for new printing technologies in China and around the globe, and currently serves as vice chairman for three leading graphic communication trade groups: China Printing and Equipment Industrial Association, China Printing Technology Association and China Printing Standards Commission (ISO TC130).
He also served as vice chairman of the Seventh World Printing Congress Steering Committee, honorary chairman of the Eighth World Printing Congress Steering Committee, consultant to the China Graphic Arts Technology Association (Taiwan) and as a senior member of the Hong Kong Graphic Arts Technology Commission.
