Idemia and AU10TIX each appoint C-level executives

Biometrics giant Idemia and digital identity authentication provider AU10TIX have each welcomed a new leader to their C-suites, with the former announcing a new COO and the latter a new CEO.

Idemia has announced it is bringing on onboard top executive Didier Fontaine as its chief operating officer responsible for finance, legal, strategy, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), information technology (IT) and purchasing.

Idemia said Fontaine, who has had a career in athletics and boasts more than 25 years of experience as a top executive with many international institutions, will be assuming the role on 2 November.

Reacting to the development, Idemia Group President & Chief Executive Officer Pierre Barrial said he was thrilled that a top executive of Fontaine’s caliber was coming on board with his great track record and “his financial, corporate and international experience in a number of sectors which will be a great asset for us.”

Fontaine, who has held various positions of responsibility in the banking sector for about a decade in countries including Brazil, Canada and France, expressed his excitement over the appointment.

“I am excited to be joining Idemia, a company at the cutting edge of technology, at a crucial time in its development. Alongside Pierre Barrial and his management team, I will do my utmost to apply all my financial, legal, IT and organizational career experience to Idemia’s current and future projects, so that the company meets its targets,” he said.

Fontaine has held various top management positions in companies such Schlumberger, Faurecia, Zodiac Aerospace and Verallia Packaging, among others. For Plastic Omnium, he helped steered the company during the global economic crisis in 2008 as executive vice president in charge of finance and IT. During his stint as chief financial officer and head of purchasing and IT of Constellium, the company successfully floated on the New York Stock Exchange in 2013.

Idemia’s business areas focused on biometrics include biometric payment cards, which are in late-stage trials, and contactless processing technology for airports, which the company recently announced it was launching at Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport in France.

AU10TIX appoints new CEO

Carey O’Connor Kolaja is AU10TIX’ new CEO, taking over for Ron Atzmon, who will transition to the role of active deputy chairman and lead strategic client relationships, M&A activities and outlining strategic decision.

O’Connor Kolaja will be responsible for driving the company’s overall business strategy and day-to-day operations. Her experience includes serving in the global chief product officer position at Citi Fintech, and VP of global consumer products at PayPal.

“I am honored to be named CEO of AU10TIX, where innovation thrives, our technology is remarkable, our employees are passionate and the future is bright. Together we can create a more inclusive and secure world,” O’Connor Kolaja said. “I look forward to leading the next stage of growth and am grateful for the leadership that has brought us to our prestigious position in the identity space.”

Article Topics

appointments  |  AU10TIX  |  biometrics  |  digital identity  |  IDEMIA