Current head of HP’s PC and printing division Dion Weisler, who has already been named as the future chief executive of the PC and printing company HP Inc, outlined the changes, all due to come in on 1 November, to staff in an internal memo obtained technology website Recode.net.

He said current head of the company’s imaging and printing business, Stephen Nigro will run HP’s new 3D printing business. Nigro, who started his HP career as an engineer working on HP’s first inkjet colour product, has experience moving HP into new markets . He led HP's initial move into commercial print in 2005.

Last year HP announced plans to develop its thermal inkjet technology into a 3D printing system for industrial applications. It unveiled a prototype of its Multi Jet Fusion 3D printing system in October, with commercial availability expected next year.

EMEA head of the PC division Enrique Lores is to take over as head of the printing group. Lores was formerly vice-president and general manager at HP’s large-format printing business and was involved in the acquisition of  MacDermid ColorSpan in 2008.

Nick Lazaridis, who runs the printing and PC business in the Asia-Pacific region, will take Lores’ role and Richard Bailey will take over at the helm in Asia.

HP is due to become an independent publically traded company on 1 November. The company was not available for comment at the time of writing.