Hamamatsu, Japan – Roland DG Corporation has announced several changes and additions to its board of directors.  The moves were announced at the company’s recent annual shareholders’ meeting following a successful year in which sales of the company’s wide-format inkjet printers, vinyl cutters, engravers, 3D rapid prototyping equipment, dental mills and impact printers increased by 34.8 percent over the previous year.

Among the announced appointments, Robert Curtis, previously senior executive director of Roland DG, was promoted to vice chairman, director. In his new position, Curtis is responsible for global market development as well as global talent development. Curtis joined Roland Corporation U.S. in 1987 and, in 1990, became vice president and director of Roland DGA Corporation, a newly formed subsidiary responsible for distribution, sales and marketing of DG products in the Americas. He became chairman of Roland DGA in 2008, and was also appointed director of Roland DG that same year.

David Goward was promoted to director from executive officer. He is responsible for Roland DG global sales, marketing and service. Goward joined Roland DGA in 1994 where he remains a director and CEO.

Hidenori Fujioka was named director, responsible for R&D. Fujioka joined Roland DG in 2014 as an advisor to the company after serving as deputy general manager for the international sales division of Riso Kagaku Corporation and general manager of that company’s American sales department.

Akira Hiruma was named an outside director. He is currently representative director and president of Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.  

Masayasu Suzuki was appointed audit and supervisory board member from executive officer. Suzuki joined Roland DG in 2009 as executive officer and general manager of finance and accounting.

According to Masahiro Tomioka, Roland DG chairman and president, the changes and appointments reflect the company’s continued focus on its GlobalOne plan. “Since 2012, our GlobalOne corporate structural reform initiative has sought to hire and promote the best people from around the world. The result is lower costs and faster product development that is better tuned to the more than 200 countries and regions we now serve. These appointments will help us continue to grow and strengthen our worldwide leadership market positions,” Tomioka said.