Checkpoint Solutions Appoints Per Levin President of New Division Merchandise Visibility Solutions
Checkpoint Systems Inc. has announced the appointment of Per Levin as president, Merchandise Visibility Solutions. This newly created division will focus on the growing use by retail and apparel companies of radio frequency identification (RFID) for merchandise visibility applications. Previously Mr. Levin served as president, Shrink Management and Merchandise Visibility Solutions, during which time he helped to build Checkpoint's leading position in shrink management.
Leading retailers in the apparel markets increasingly recognize the benefits to their customers and to their businesses of incorporating RFID technology in their operations. Doing so helps them to improve inventory accuracy, eliminate out-of-stocks, reduce markdowns, reduce working capital and ultimately sell more merchandise. Importantly, in apparel retail, RFID can also be used as an electronic article surveillance (EAS) device to prevent theft.
"I am confident that the talent and technology is now in place to win in this emerging business process," said Rob van der Merwe, chairman, president and CEO. "With the purchase of OATSystems in 2008 and Brilliant Label Manufacturing in 2009, Checkpoint acquired two key businesses enabling the Company to provide RFID software engineering and expanded global label printing. These capabilities, together with our legacy assets and global footprint, combine to offer Checkpoint's customers an important end-to-end solution."
Prasad Putta, co-founder of OATSystems and an industry leading RFID expert who was also a founding participant at the MIT Auto-ID Laboratory, will serve in an executive role in the new division. Farrokh Abadi, currently senior vice president and CIO, will replace Per Levin as president, Shrink Management Solutions. The Company will conduct an internal and external search to fill the CIO vacancy.
Leading retailers in the apparel markets increasingly recognize the benefits to their customers and to their businesses of incorporating RFID technology in their operations. Doing so helps them to improve inventory accuracy, eliminate out-of-stocks, reduce markdowns, reduce working capital and ultimately sell more merchandise. Importantly, in apparel retail, RFID can also be used as an electronic article surveillance (EAS) device to prevent theft.
"I am confident that the talent and technology is now in place to win in this emerging business process," said Rob van der Merwe, chairman, president and CEO. "With the purchase of OATSystems in 2008 and Brilliant Label Manufacturing in 2009, Checkpoint acquired two key businesses enabling the Company to provide RFID software engineering and expanded global label printing. These capabilities, together with our legacy assets and global footprint, combine to offer Checkpoint's customers an important end-to-end solution."
Prasad Putta, co-founder of OATSystems and an industry leading RFID expert who was also a founding participant at the MIT Auto-ID Laboratory, will serve in an executive role in the new division. Farrokh Abadi, currently senior vice president and CIO, will replace Per Levin as president, Shrink Management Solutions. The Company will conduct an internal and external search to fill the CIO vacancy.