GARDABAER, Iceland – Marel Inc. announced Jan Erik Kuhlmann will join the company as the new president of North America region. Kuhlmann will take over the position on Oct. 22.

The company said in the press release that Kuhlmann has a deep understanding of the markets Marel serves and the demands that confront them daily as trusted suppliers.

Kuhlmann joins Marel with more than 35 years of senior level leadership experience in the industrial food processing and packaging equipment industries.

His previous job was at Marlen International as senior vice president of global sales and marketing in Riverside, Missouri.

Before joining Marlen, he served as president for Harpak-ULMA Packaging, a family-run joint venture in the packaging and equipment segment. Prior to that, he served as president and CEO of Multivac Inc. in Kansas City, Missouri.

Kuhlmann will report to Einar Einarsson, executive vice president of global markets.