Ivoclar Vivadent names new chief technology officer

Ivoclar Vivadent has announced the imminent appointment of Dr Thomas Hirt as its next chief technology officer.

Dr Hirt – the company's current director of organic chemistry – will take up his new role at the beginning of June 2013, succeeding Dr Volker Rheinberger, who is stepping down from day-to-day operations to join Ivoclar Vivadent's supervisory board.

The new chief technology officer has been with the company since 2010 and will be able to acclimatise quickly to his new role, thanks to the extensive advance planning of the succession process.

Ivoclar Vivadent paid tribute to the outgoing Dr Rheinberger, who first joined the business in 1983 and has been credited with extensively overhauling its research and development division.

Dr Hirt said: "I very much look forward to assuming responsibility for the research and development department, particularly because the company is distinguished by its innovative products and dental technologies."

This comes after the firm recently announced an expansion of its Authorised Milling Partner programme to include Zimmer/Zfx, an international supplier of CAD/CAM solutions.