ROCHESTER, N.Y. - May 2 - Kodak's Graphic Communications Group (GCG) today announced the appointment of four managing directors for regional sales and operations. -- Kevin Joyce, currently Vice President, Sales, Kodak Polychrome Graphics (KPG), is appointed Managing Director, Sales and Operations for the GCC United States & Canada (US&C) region. -- Israel Sandler, currently Managing Director of Creo EMEA, will be appointed Managing Director, Sales and Operations for the GCG Europe, Africa and Middle East region (EAMER). Sandler's appointment will be effective with the completion of the Creo acquisition, anticipated for later this year. -- Dr. Kiyoo Shimada, currently President of KPG Japan, is appointed Managing Director, Sales and Operations for GCG Japan. -- Gustavo Oviedo, currently Vice President and General Manager KPG Latin American region (LAR), is appointed Managing Director, Sales and Operations for GCG LAR. They will report to Andrew Copley, Managing Director and Vice President, Global Sales and Operations, Graphic Communications Group. The regional managing directors are responsible for optimizing all GCG product and solutions offerings and for ensuring strong regional results and profitability. They will lead integration activities across the regions, in cooperation with the leadership teams of GCG's operating units, Graphic Solutions & Services (GS&S) and Transaction & Industrial Solutions (T&IS). Additionally, they will be responsible for day-to-day operations within the regions, including sales of prepress and digital products, along with customer service, product support, supply chain management and tactical product marketing. The regional managing directors will support the sales of transaction and industrial products working with T&IS. The regional managing directors also are responsible for regional alignment of equipment service and ensuring overall customer satisfaction, working with the Global Service organization, led by Dolores Traxler, General Manager. "Kevin, Israel, Kiyoo and Gustavo each bring a breadth and depth of experience in their respective regions--and the industry--that will be extremely valuable in the successful integration of our business," said Copley. "Their knowledge of the industry and customers will help ensure that Kodak is meeting customer needs today and in the future. They are great additions to the Kodak team." Kevin Joyce has spent more than 15 years in the electronic imaging and graphics arts fields. Before joining KPG, Joyce was President of Creo Americas. Joyce has a B.A. degree from St. Michael's College and has completed an Executive Development Program at the Harvard University Graduate School of Business. Prior to joining Creo, Israel Sandler served as CEO of TDI Systems in Herzlia, Israel. He also has held managerial roles for several high-tech companies, including Scitex Corporation Ltd. Sandler completed the senior management program at INSEAD in France, studied marketing at Tel Aviv University and attained a B.Sc. degree from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Before joining KPG, Kiyoo Shimada served as President of MEMC Japan Ltd., a leading worldwide provider of silicon wafers for the semiconductor industry, and as Corporate Vice President of MEMC Electronic Materials Company, Inc., a company listed on NYSE. Dr. Shimada holds a Ph.D. in chemistry from Syracuse University and a B.S. degree in polymer chemistry from Kyoto University in Kyoto Japan. Gustavo Oviedo's international career spans more than 25 years working in Latin America, Asia and Europe. Prior to joining KPG in 2002, Oviedo was the Director Latin America at Weidmuller, Inc. Prior to that, he spent more than 20 years with Schneider Electric, a leader in electromechanical and electronic products, where he held positions of increasing responsibility in distribution, logistics, sales and marketing, and country management. His education includes a Business degree from the Universidad del Salvador, Buenos Aires, Argentina; HEC - Human Resource Management, Paris, France, General Management Senior Executive Program, Dartmouth University, New Hampshire.