中文Fremont, California — Fiery, LLC, the print industry’s dominant force in digital front ends (DFEs) and production workflow software, has announced a leadership transition: Micah Kornberg, previously the company’s Chief Financial and Operating Officer, has been appointed CEO. He succeeds Toby Weiss, who departs after 17 years to pursue opportunities in the cybersecurity sector.
The transition marks a natural evolution for Fiery, which has undergone more structural change in the past three years than in the previous two decades. In 2023, the company was separated from EFI as an independent entity. In 2024, it was acquired by Seiko Epson Corporation in a deal that reshaped the competitive landscape of digital print. And in 2026, Fiery acquired Inèdit Software, the Barcelona-based developer of raster image processing and color management tools for digital textile printing — a move that signaled Fiery’s intention to expand beyond its traditional commercial and packaging print stronghold into the fast-growing textile segment.
Kornberg is not new to Fiery or to print. He joined EFI in 2011 when the company acquired Entrac, a print-for-pay software pioneer where he served as president. At EFI, he rose to Vice President and executive sponsor for the enterprise accounts division, helping to modernize Fiery’s enterprise portfolio. More recently, he led the complex operational separation of Fiery from EFI — a project that gave him intimate knowledge of every facet of the business.
“Toby has been an exceptional leader for over a decade and a half, and his efforts have positioned Fiery extremely well for continued DFE technology leadership and diversified growth,” said Kornberg. “I’m honored to take the reins, and look forward to guiding Fiery to even greater success in the next chapter of its journey.”
Weiss, for his part, expressed genuine affection for the industry he helped shape. “Leading the team at Fiery has been an honor for me. I love the print industry, but decided for personal reasons to take on the challenges of leading a company in the field of cybersecurity, which is where I spent my early career prior to joining Fiery.” His tenure included the acquisition of CADlink in 2022, Fiery’s separation from EFI, and the Epson acquisition — a series of transactions that collectively redefined the company’s strategic position.
The leadership change comes at a pivotal moment for the digital print industry. Digital production printing continues to gain share from analog offset and flexo, and the DFE — the software and hardware bridge between job files and the print engine — has become increasingly strategic. Modern DFEs do far more than RIP files; they manage color across devices, orchestrate variable data workflows, enforce security policies, and provide the data backbone for print-on-demand business models.
Under Epson’s ownership, Fiery benefits from the deep pockets and global distribution of a $9 billion technology company while maintaining operational independence. The Inèdit acquisition extends Fiery’s reach into digital textile, a segment projected to grow at double-digit rates as fashion and home décor brands adopt on-demand production models. Kornberg’s operational expertise and continuity of leadership position Fiery to execute on these opportunities without the disruption that often accompanies CEO transitions.
Industry analysts view the Kornberg appointment as a stabilizing signal. In an era where private equity-owned printing technology companies frequently cycle through CEOs with limited industry experience, promoting a deeply embedded operational leader suggests that Epson values continuity and execution over dramatic strategic pivots. The Inèdit acquisition, completed earlier in 2026, is seen as the template for future growth: targeted acquisitions in adjacent print segments that can leverage Fiery’s DFE and workflow platform without requiring the company to build organic expertise from scratch.
The competitive landscape for DFEs has intensified with the rise of cloud-based alternatives and the increasing sophistication of press manufacturers’ own front-end offerings. Fiery’s market position — dominant in toner-based digital production and growing in inkjet — depends on maintaining a technology lead that justifies its price premium over bundled alternatives. Under Kornberg’s leadership, the company will need to demonstrate that its independent status, combined with Epson’s backing, produces better outcomes for print service providers than vertically integrated solutions. The coming year will be a critical test of that proposition.
Kornberg’s appointment has been well received by Fiery’s channel partners, who value stability and predictability in their primary technology supplier. Several large North American and European dealers issued statements welcoming the appointment, emphasizing Kornberg’s deep familiarity with the dealer channel and his track record of operational execution. For Epson, which acquired Fiery for approximately $591 million in 2024, the leadership transition represents an opportunity to demonstrate that the acquisition thesis — combining Epson’s PrecisionCore inkjet technology with Fiery’s DFE and workflow expertise — remains on track. Kornberg’s first 100 days as CEO will be closely watched by competitors, customers, and the broader industry for signals about Fiery’s strategic direction under its new leadership structure.
Source: WhatTheyThink
