WALLA WALLA, WASH. — Key Technology, a Duravant family brand, announced Sept. 22 the appointment of Marco Azzaretti as the company’s new director of marketing.

He will be responsible for all marketing strategies and initiative to promote Key Technology’s high-performance digital sorting, conveying and process automation solutions globally.

Azzaretti previously worked with Key Technology from 2012 to 2019, most recently serving as automated inspection systems product manager.

“We are thrilled to welcome Marco back,” said Carson Brennan, president of Key Technology in the Americas. “During his prior tenure at Key, he accumulated a deep understanding of our products, markets and customers. Among other things, Marco was instrumental in helping us develop and launch our VERYX family of digital sorters, which established new standards of performance and continues to evolve and lead the industry today. His industry expertise and strong customer relationships will help guide strategies that best serve food processors around the world.”

Azzaretti brings more than 20 years of product management and marketing experience in food industry processing equipment and automation technology to his new role with Key Technology. Before rejoining the company, he served as senior manager of solutions marketing at Compac, a leading inspection systems and packaging automation supplier in the fresh produce industry.

“This is an exciting time at Key,” Azzaretti said. “We continue to expand the capabilities of our solutions, offering processors new possibilities for ensuring the quality and safety of their products, while helping maximize their profitability. As the COVID pandemic compounds existing labor issues, the value of automation is even more apparent. By collaborating with our customers and understanding their pain points, we can develop products that directly address those challenges and open new opportunities.”

Azzaretti earned his bachelor’s in business from Xavier University and a Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University.

Read more about personnel changes throughout the industry.