Gov. Ned Lamont has appointed Kirti Patel as the state’s new chief manufacturing officer.
He replaces Paul Lavoie, who left in July to become University of New Haven’s first vice president of innovation and applied technology.
Lavoie had been in the position since February 2022.
Patel most recently served as the president and board director of Eppendorf Manufacturing Corp. in Enfield, where he oversaw the company’s North American manufacturing operations.
Eppendorf is a German life sciences instrumentation maker.
“Mr Patel brings decades of global experience in manufacturing, product development and business leadership,” Lamont said. “I am confident that his vision and leadership will strengthen our manufacturing sector and ensure Connecticut remains at the forefront of advanced manufacturing.”
Before his work with Eppendorf, Patel founded Sensant Corp., a medical device startup creating 3D ultrasound imaging technology. That company went on to be acquired by Siemens Healthcare.
At Siemens he led the global preclinical imaging division.
“Connecticut has a world-class workforce, innovative companies and strong educational partnerships,” Patel said. “I look forward to working with manufacturers across the state to strengthen collaboration, build capacity and ensure our sector remains globally competitive.”
He advises technology startups through Yale Ventures and the University of Connecticut’s Technology Incubation Program.
Patel holds an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania; a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University and a master’s in chemical engineering from the University of California Davis; and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Mangalore University in India.
He began his career at Intel Corp. where he worked on semiconductor lithography technology and advanced manufacturing process development.
Lamont made the announcement at the Connecticut Manufacturing Innovation Forum at the Connecticut Convention Center.
The position is based within the state Department of Economic and Community Development.
