Hess (pictured) is the first, and so far only, ex-Creo employee to be confirmed as moving to Kodak once the deal is completed.

A Kodak spokesman said: "Our plan is to retain the best and brightest. At this stage we've named one, but that doesn't mean others won't join."

Her full job title will be general manager and vice president of workflow and pre-press at the Graphic Solutions and Services (GS&S) unit of Kodak's Graphic Communications Group (GCG). She will report to GS&S president and chief operating officer of GCG Jeff Jacobson.

Kodak has also revealed other senior members of Jacobson's team at GS&S.

KPG president of the Americas Andrew Copley becomes managing director and vice president of global sales and operations. Copley will be responsible for putting together the regional sales structure, including the UK and Europe. Kodak said that the details of the regional structure had yet to be finalised.

KPG vice president of research and development Doug Edwards becomes general manager and vice president of consumables. Former NexPress president and chief executive Venkat Purushotham is general manager and vice president of digital printing.

Details of the team for the other division of the GCG, transactional and industrial solutions, which is headed up by former Versamark chief Nachum Shamir, has yet to be revealed.

Story by Barney Cox