Star Rapid appoints new CEO following major revenue growth
David Hunter will serve as CEO of Star Rapid (Courtesy Star Rapid)
Star Rapid, San Francisco, California, USA, has appointed David Hunter as its Chief Executive Officer following a period of what it says has been ‘unprecedented’ revenue growth for the company, which saw revenues grow by 40% for the full year 2017 and 10% year-on-year in the first half 2018. Hunter’s appointment is part of an overall expansion of the company’s staff, bringing the total to 280 employees worldwide.
Star Rapid stated that it sees future growth opportunities within the rapid prototyping and low-volume manufacturing of smart devices with Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities. These devices are said to be increasing in prominence across many of the company’s core markets, including the automotive, medical and industrial sectors. Hunter reportedly brings to the company over thirty years of lean management experience, and under his leadership, Star Rapid is expected to incorporate Industry 4.0 processes and systems that rely upon real-time data to increase operational efficiencies by eliminating bottlenecks, preventing line down or asset under-utilisation and implementing defect prevention measures.
Most recently, Hunter served as VP of Operations and Quality at Multek, a division of Flex, where he is said to have helped lead the business turnaround and development. Prior to this, he was VP and general manager of Wuxi.
On his appointment to CEO of Star Rapid, Hunter commented, “Having experienced strong growth in 2017, we are focused upon continuously improving every aspect of customer engagement. Implementing robust, scalable processes utilising lean techniques and developing an outstanding talent pool will enable Star Rapid to enjoy sustainable growth. In addition, we are embarking upon the deployment of intelligent manufacturing technologies, connected equipment and IoT which we believe will create a true competitive advantage for both ourselves and our customers.”
The company’s founder, Gordon Styles, will serve as president and CTO. “David is a natural-born leader and his impact has been evident from day one,” he added. “His in-depth practical knowledge about how to deploy intelligent and lean manufacturing, paired with his long-term vision, will be invaluable as Star Rapid continues to expand its global presence. We look forward to continuing our company’s success and serving our global customers.”
