Esko Names New President

Ghent, Belgium-based Esko, a maker of finishing equipment and developer of workflow software with U.S. headquarters in Miamisburg, Ohio, announces the appointment of Mattias Byström as its new president, effective Jan. 1, 2019.

Byström brings with him more than 20 years of general management experience. Most recently, he was CEO of FlexLink, a global, $300 million factory automation solutions business with headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden. Byström has eight years of prior Danaher (Esko’s parent company) experience in different leadership roles in what was then known as Danaher Motion. This included leading the automated guided vehicle business, primarily a software systems enterprise. Earlier in his career, Byström co-founded and led two digital start-ups.

“Esko has incredible potential because digitization, automation and connectivity have gained momentum in the packaging industry in the past few years,” says Byström. “It is my priority to ensure that Esko delivers stronger innovation that is increasingly valuable to our customers.”

Byström succeeds Udo Panenka, who is leaving the company to pursue new opportunities.

“With his unique management and technology background, Mattias is ideally suited to lead Esko now. I am very happy to welcome him back to Danaher and excited to place him at the head of this important business that is simplifying the packaging value chain,” says Joakim Weidemanis, executive vice president of Danaher.