Michael Ritter, NovAtel President & CEONovAtel, Inc., announced today (January 27) that it has named Michael Ritter as the company’s new president and CEO.
Ritter succeeds Jon Ladd, who will take on a new strategic advisory role with NovAtel’s parent company, Hexagon AB, of Sweden. A provider of core GNSS technology, including GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo receivers mostly in high-precision OEM form factors, NovAtel is based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
NovAtel, Inc., announced today (January 27) that it has named Michael Ritter as the company’s new president and CEO.
Ritter succeeds Jon Ladd, who will take on a new strategic advisory role with NovAtel’s parent company, Hexagon AB, of Sweden. A provider of core GNSS technology, including GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo receivers mostly in high-precision OEM form factors, NovAtel is based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
A trained engineer, Ritter has more than 20 years of experience in the high-precision GNSS industry, most recently as a senior executive with Trimble Navigation Ltd. At Trimble, Ritter served for several years as general manager of the company’s construction services division. Prior to Trimble, Ritter held senior positions with Schlumberger and various other companies around the world.
NovAtel’s outgoing president and CEO, Jon Ladd said, “After an extensive executive search, I believe we have hired the best candidate to continue expanding NovAtel’s business and to develop strategies that will ensure the company’s long-term success in the new global economic environment. Michael’s understanding of the industry, his experience managing change improvement processes, and his team-oriented leadership style will fit very well with NovAtel’s culture and business environment.”
Ola Rollén, president and CEO of NovAtel’s parent company, Hexagon AB said, “We are extremely pleased to be able to once again attract someone with such world-class industry experience. We anticipate a very smooth transition of leadership and look forward to supporting Mr. Ritter in his new growth initiatives for the company.”
Of Ladd, Rollén added, “One only has to look at NovAtel’s tremendous growth during Jon Ladd’s tenure to recognize the value he delivered to the company. He and his management team firmly established NovAtel’s position as a leading global manufacturer of GNSS precision technology, creating a powerful brand that is second to none in the industry.
Ritter is expected to start his new role at NovAtel on February 2, 2009. Ladd will assist Ritter during his transition to NovAtel, after which Ladd will join Hexagon in a strategic advisory role.
