Intelligent lighting solutions company Lighting Science^® announced today that its Board of Directors has appointed Edward Bednarcik as Chief Executive Officer, effective September 8, 2014. Bednarcik, a talented executive with experience developing and commercializing technology across multiple industries globally, will lead the company as it continues to bring to market new innovative LED lighting solutions and expand its presence in the office, retail, education, health care, assisted living, agriculture, government, fitness, hospitality, infrastructure and residential market segments.

Bednarcik replaces Interim CEO Richard Davis, who will continue to serve as a Director on Lighting Science’s Board.

“Ed’s leadership experience in the technology sector and as a driver of growth will be a tremendous asset to Lighting Science,” said Craig Cogut, Chairman of the Lighting Science Board of Directors. “Based on his impressive track record of repositioning and transitioning companies toward significant growth, Ed has partnered with private equity owners and entrepreneurs alike to take strong franchises in markets that are being disrupted, and turn them into industry leaders. We are looking forward to benefitting from Ed’s expertise and technology experience to help take Lighting Science to the next level.”

Bednarcik most recently served as CEO and President at Video IQ, an enterprise software company focused on providing video analytics for “big data” solutions globally, where he positioned the business for dynamic growth through revamping the company’s product portfolio and developing key industry partnerships to enable the rapid expansion of the company’s unique video surveillance solutions. This led to the company's sale in January 2014 to Avigilon Corporation. Prior to that he was CEO and President of Wright Line LLC, a global supplier of innovative data center solutions for government and commercial customers, from 2007 to 2011. At Wright Line, he was responsible for re-positioning the company for higher growth and profitability, leading to the sale of the company to Eaton Corporation in August 2010. Mr. Bednarcik has also served in senior leadership positions at A123 Systems, LLC, which is focused on high-power lithium ion battery solutions for hybrid electric vehicle transportation, and at American Power Conversion Corporation, a provider of integrated power protection solutions to enterprise, small-medium business and residential customers.

“The opportunity to lead Lighting Science, which as one of the most innovative LED lighting companies in the market has become the trusted provider of lighting solutions to a broad range of delighted customers from NASA to moms and dads alike, is both exciting and compelling,” said Bednarcik. “As one of the largest LED patent-holders, the first company to market with a line of biologically-correct LED bulbs that provide conventional white light, and part of the team that NASA relied on when it wanted to enhance the performance of astronauts in space, Lighting Science is leading the charge to bring the last vestige of the analog world—light—into the digital age.”