Michelman has named Pasha Solel as its new senior business development and applications manager, flexible packaging.

Before joining Michelman, Mr Solel spent nearly a decade with HP Indigo as a material applications expert, working with converters, and focused on labels and flexible packaging applications. Prior to HP, he spent many years in the sustainable solar power industry, having experience with various plastics, adhesives, coatings, treatments, and curing technologies.

Ralph Giammarco, global business development director at Michelman for printing and packaging, said, ‘In addition to his strong technical background and customer-intimate approach, Pasha brings an in-depth understanding of how digital imaging and state-of-the art finishing workflows will help our customers adapt to the high market and brand demands for sustainability, functional performance, and quick turnaround.’

Mr Solel’s appointment is the latest in a number of recruitment moves aimed to enhance the company’s technical expertise and overall global workforce to help Michelman and its customers navigate the packaging industry’s ever-changing material and end-of-life requirements. This has seen Dr Richard (Rick) I. Michelman promoted to president and CEO; Jon Hunter and Sonia Razaque recruited to lead its environmental, health and safety (EH&S), and regulatory compliance and product stewardship activities; Heather Ecke joining as account manager for flexible packaging; and Gianluigi Rankin named as global marketing manager for digital printing.

Mr Rankin has also been named to the Digital Print for Packaging US advisory board, where along with peers from Siegwerk, EFI, HP, Smithers, Ball Corporation and Global Inkjet Systems, he will help shape the future of Digital Print for Packaging events and programmes hosted by Smithers.

Mr Rankin said, ‘I’m excited to collaborate with this panel of expert advisory board members who thoroughly understand the current trends of the digital printing industry. I look forward to helping shape relevant and industry-leading events.’