Chris Yates has been elected as the European Machine Vision Association’s president.
Yates succeeds Jochem Herrmann, who has held the role of EMVA president since 2015 and has decided to step down to spend more time with his family.
Yates is director of advanced technology within the Safety, Sensing, and Connectivity business of Rockwell Automation, having previously been the CEO and founder of Odos Imaging prior to the company's acquisition by Rockwell Automation in 2017. He was elected to EMVA’s board of directors at the association’s 2018 business conference in Dubrovnik, Croatia.
During his time on the EMVA board, Yates has focused on greater engagement with startup companies together with the operational direction of the association.
Yates holds a degree and PhD from Imperial College London, and has held a number of senior roles in early stage companies, concentrating on turning novel technology into commercial products.
In accepting the role of president, Yates commented: 'Vision systems remain one of the most important and widely used automation technologies in the continued evolution of industry, and the EMVA represents many significant organisations active in the sector.
‘I believe that the EMVA must continue to advocate and promote the use of vision technology across all sectors, and is well placed to provide a focal point for dissemination, education, and collaboration within the market,’ he added.
‘I must also thank Jochem for his remarkable leadership and contribution over the past years, leaving behind a legacy which places the association on an excellent foundation for the future,’ he concluded.
During his time as president, Herrmann, cofounder and chief scientist of Adimec, has overseen growth of the association each year, while also providing guidance in the area of standardisation.
Herrmann will continue to be a member of the board of directors into 2020 to help ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities. He said: 'It has been an honour and pleasure for me to serve as the president of the EMVA over the past years, and to be able to contribute to the continued development of the association and promotion of the machine vision industry. I am proud to be a member of the vision community and value all the work we have done together and lasting relationships which have been established. I wish Chris all the best in the new role and am confident that he will be able to build on the successes of the association and act as an effective figurehead for the community as the vision industry evolves.'
Related stories:
- Read Chris Yates' Q&A article from 2014
- Read about Odos Imaging winning the Vision Award in 2014
