Nazdar appoints Edward Baiden as new President, CEO

USA – Nazdar has appointed Edward Baiden as president and CEO, effective 8 September 2026, succeeding Richard Bowles, who is retiring after more than 23 years of leadership at the ink and printing solutions manufacturer.

Baiden brings more than 25 years of global leadership experience across industrial and specialty materials businesses, joining Nazdar from W R Grace where he served as senior vice president of strategy, planning and transformation. 

Prior to Grace, he led PPG’s global traffic solutions business, and has also held roles at DuPont and GE, with a track record of growth and lasting customer relationships. 

Board Confidence in New Leadership

Jeff Thrall, executive chairman, stated that following a thoughtful and thorough search, the board is confident it has selected a leader who will build upon Nazdar’s strong foundation while positioning the company for its next chapter of growth, with Baiden’s proven ability to lead global businesses and strengthen customer relationships making him the right leader for Nazdar’s future. 

Baiden said he is honoured to join Nazdar, a company with a century-long reputation for quality, innovation and strong partnership with its customers, adding that he has deep respect for what Bowles and the team have built and looks forward to carrying that legacy forward. 

Baiden’s experience in industrial and specialty materials aligns closely with Nazdar’s focus on manufacturing excellence, innovation, technical expertise and customer partnerships across its screen printing, digital and flexographic ink businesses.

Leadership Transition and Bowles’ Retirement

Baiden and Bowles will work closely together through the leadership transition to ensure a smooth handoff for employees, customers, suppliers and business partners. 

Bowles’ retirement caps a tenure during which he helped strengthen Nazdar’s business, culture and reputation across the global printing industry. 

Bowles stated that it has been a privilege to lead Nazdar and to work alongside such a dedicated team and loyal customers, expressing confidence that the company’s best days are ahead and pleasure in helping Baiden step into the role for a smooth transition. 

Nazdar, founded in 1922, is a global leader in the development and manufacture of screen printing, digital and flexographic inks, serving customers in commercial printing, packaging, industrial and specialty applications. 

The company’s products are used in a wide range of applications including labels, flexible packaging, corrugated printing, and industrial coding and marking, with the new CEO expected to drive growth across these segments.

Subscribe to our email newsletters that provide busy executives like you with the latest news insights and trends from Africa and the World. SUBSCRIBE HERE