SCM Microsystems, Inc. a leading digital solutions provider today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Ingo Zankel to fill the newly created position of chief operating officer, effective 1 January, 2005.

Zankel, 42, will be responsible for product industrialisation, engineering and supply chain management (purchasing, production and logisitics). He will play a key role in managing and coordinating SCM's development efforts and manufacturing operations with the aim of optimizing efficiency, quality, time to market and cost-competitiveness.

"We are very pleased to have Ingo Zankel join the SCM team. Zankel's deep industry knowledge and background, as well as his international experience in our industry were key to his selection," SCM Microsystems chief executive officer Robert Schneider said.

"I am excited to be joining SCM Microsystems, which has a well deserved reputation as a leader in secure access technology and is providing innovative and robust reader devices for PC and digital TV security," said Zankel. "The company's requirements seemed a natural fit with my professional skills. I look forward to taking up my role at the start of the new year."

Zankel has worked for more than 10 years in senior management positions in the smart card industry. For eight years, he worked for smart cards and systems solutions leader Giesecke & Devrient, where he held a variety of management positions in controls and efficiency areas, most recently as COO Cards & Solutions business unit and senior vice president for the Banking, Industry/Government segment.