Gerber Coburn names new president

South Windsor, CT-Clement Patry, Gerber Coburn's executive director of sales, will take over as president of the company effective Feb. 1.

Patry, who has more than 20 years' experience in the ophthalmic industry, will also serve as vice president of the parent company, Gerber Scientific Inc.

Patry will succeed John R. Hancock, who moves from president of Gerber Coburn to president of Gerber Technology, which provides integrated hardware and software automation solutions to the apparel and flexible materials industries. He will continue as a senior vice president of Gerber Scientific.

The changes come as Gerber Coburn expands its dedicated sales force to cover the wholesale lab market. For 18 years, the company had used a third-party sales network. Nearly 100 people will address the wholesale lab market with sales and service calls as part of the company's new focus on customer relations.