Qioptiq CEO Bazire Steps Down

Paris-based optics company Qioptiq announced today that Benoît Bazire is leaving after 10 years as CEO. Qioptiq, formerly known as High Tech Optics, was acquired by Candover in a buyout from Thales in 2005. Bazire's decision to leave the group and pursue other opportunities was made in agreement with Candover; he will retain an economic interest in the company. Bazire will be replaced, effective immediately, by Fredrik Arp, who has held senior executive positions in large global companies for the last 20 years, most recently as CEO and president of the Volvo Car Corp. Before that, he was CEO of Trelleborg AB, and PLM AB, now part of Rexam plc. Since 2004, Arp has been involved with Candover in various portfolio company roles, and acted as a senior advisor to its Industrials sector. Prior to joining High Tech Optics (HTO), Bazire held a number of senior management positions within Thales. He served as managing director of the HTO activities of the Thales Group between 2000 and 2005. He was appointed CEO of the Qioptiq Group in 2005.