Leslie Stern is leaving as CEO at communications technology firm Bell and Howell. Stern’s departure is for “personal reasons,” the company said Monday.
Kamal Advani, a member of the board, takes over on an interim basis.
Advani works with Versa Capital Management, the majority owner of the company.
Bell and Howell focuses on print, web and mobile delivery communications solutions.
The firm said it hopes to have a new CEO by the end of the year.
Stern held the CEO position for two years.
“I’m proud of what the team has accomplished to reestablish the Bell and Howell brand and its reputation for innovative products,” said Stern in a statement. “Thanks to our loyal customers, our dedicated workforce, and our industry leading solutions, we are well positioned for continued growth, so after two years of commuting to Durham from my home in New York, I need to spend more time with my family.”
Board Chairman Gregory Segall, who also is CEO of Versa Capital, praised Stern.
“Under Les’s leadership, Bell and Howell has reasserted its position as a leading provider of high-volume mail and document management solutions,” he said. “The company has made substantial progress since our 2011 acquisition in large measure due to Les’s efforts working with the management team and all Bell and Howell employees worldwide. For his efforts we are extremely grateful and wish Les the very best as he moves on to his next big challenge.”
Advani “brings a wealth of experience to his interim role and is the right person to lead Bell and Howell during this transition,” Segall added. Segall has held finance and operational executive roles for a number of firms over a career stretching nearly 30 years.
