Gerber Scientific Inc. has announced the appointment of Thomas Finn, currently senior vice president of Global Operations, to the additional role of President of Asia Pacific. He is charged with optimising our operating model to support increased business growth in the Asia Pacific region.
Based in Shanghai, China, Finn reports directly to Marc Giles, Gerber Scientific president and chief executive officer. "Tom understands that, to be successful, an organisation has to be nimble, cost conscious and completely focused on customers' needs," said Giles. "With his breadth of experience, he will help us achieve our ambitious goals in the region, expand our product portfolio, and elevate the level of service and support that Gerber customers have come to expect."
Finn joined Gerber Scientific in early 2010. In previous positions, he served as vice president of Supply Chain for Lucent Technologies, Inc., leading the telecommunications equipment company's global supply chain transformation, and subsequently served as head of Lucent's Asia Operations based in Shanghai. He was vice president of Worldwide Supply for Solectron Corp., a global leader in electronics manufacturing services, helping the company grow four fold in four years. His efforts helped Solectron win the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award. Prior to this, Finn spent 11 years in various operations and supply chain roles with Texas Instruments, Inc., a global diversified manufacturer of electronics systems and components. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and a master's degree from the University of Texas at Dallas.
Gerber Scientific has long been serving customers in China. In 1980, the company established its regional management office in Hong Kong. Today, Gerber proudly serves more than 5,500 customers throughout the Asia Pacific region.
"Gerber gave birth to this industry," said Finn. "For decades, the company has been providing valuable automation solutions and services to enable customers to differentiate themselves from their competitors. We are committed to continuing to deliver innovative products and solutions that will help our customers achieve and sustain a competitive advantage."
Finn succeeds James Arthurs who served as president, Gerber Scientific, Asia Pacific, and non-executive chairman of Gerber Technology since 2005 and will be stepping down at the end of the year. Arthurs, who joined Gerber Technology in 1980, led Gerber's foray into the China market and has become an icon among apparel manufacturers in the region. He will work closely with Finn in the coming months to ensure a seamless transition.
