Protolabs Announces New Era of Leadership: Suresh Krishna Appointed as President and CEO to Steer Company into Next Phase of Digital Manufacturing Growth
Proto Labs, widely recognized as the world’s premier provider of digital manufacturing services, has taken a strategic leap forward by appointing Suresh Krishna as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. Effective immediately, Krishna also joins the Board of Directors of Protolabs, signaling a significant shift in the company’s executive leadership aimed at capitalizing on the tremendous growth opportunities within the global digital manufacturing market.
Suresh Krishna steps into this role with a distinguished 30-year track record of transformative leadership in the manufacturing sector. Most recently, he served as President and CEO of Northern Tool + Equipment, a leading manufacturer and omnichannel retailer of high-performance tools and commercial-grade equipment. Under Krishna’s stewardship, Northern Tool achieved significant growth by enhancing operational efficiency, optimizing its supply chain, and instilling a deep customer-centric culture across all business units.
Krishna succeeds Rob Bodor, who served as President and CEO of Protolabs since 2021. Bodor, a key figure in shaping Protolabs’ digital transformation strategy, will remain with the company in a consulting role for the immediate future to ensure a seamless executive transition. His continued involvement highlights Protolabs’ commitment to preserving institutional knowledge while embracing visionary leadership for the future.
Strategic Vision for Protolabs Under New Leadership
The appointment of Suresh Krishna marks a new chapter for Protolabs as the company positions itself to expand deeper into the $100 billion global digital manufacturing market. With its distinctive business model—offering both in-house digital production and a curated network of global manufacturing partners—Protolabs is uniquely positioned as a one-stop solution for product developers, engineers, and supply chain leaders from prototyping through to full-scale production.
Rainer Gawlick, Chairman of Protolabs’ Board of Directors, emphasized the significance of this leadership change:
Under Rob’s guidance, Protolabs has broadened its capabilities, modernized manufacturing systems, and built the robust Protolabs Network that empowers us to meet a diverse array of customer needs efficiently and reliably. His leadership has laid a strong foundation, and we are incredibly grateful for his dedication to our customers and mission.”
Gawlick continued by addressing the board’s confidence in Krishna’s capacity to drive innovation and sustainable profitability:
Suresh brings a wealth of leadership experience, operational excellence, and strategic clarity. His proven ability to create shareholder value and lead with vision and integrity makes him the ideal leader for Protolabs’ next phase. We believe his forward-thinking approach and deep understanding of scalable manufacturing will be instrumental as we accelerate production initiatives and expand customer reach.”
Krishna’s Leadership Philosophy and Vision for Protolabs
In his first official statement as CEO, Krishna expressed his enthusiasm for joining Protolabs at such a pivotal time in the company’s trajectory:
It is a tremendous honor to be named the next CEO of Protolabs. The company has earned a reputation for delivering precision, speed, and innovation in the digital manufacturing space. I see enormous potential ahead—particularly given Protolabs’ unique ability to integrate in-house manufacturing capabilities with an extensive digital partner network.”
He further emphasized the company’s ability to remain nimble in a complex global manufacturing environment:
Our customers are increasingly looking for partners who can deliver not just prototypes, but seamless, scalable solutions all the way through to production. Protolabs is perfectly poised to lead that shift, especially as industries like aerospace, medical devices, automotive, and electronics evolve toward shorter product development cycles and smarter supply chains.”
A Legacy of Innovation: Rob Bodor’s Impactful Tenure
While welcoming a new CEO, the company also reflected on the achievements of Rob Bodor during his tenure. Bodor first joined Protolabs in 2012 and held a variety of executive roles before assuming the CEO position in 2021. Under his leadership, Protolabs expanded its service offerings, integrated new digital capabilities, and built a resilient operational backbone to support long-term growth.
Bodor commented on his departure with pride in the team and optimism for the future:
Leading the Protolabs team has been one of the greatest privileges of my career. Together, we have significantly strengthened our market position, enabling faster, smarter, and more flexible manufacturing for our clients. I have no doubt that Suresh will elevate Protolabs to even greater success.”
Financial Outlook Reflects Continued Momentum
Protolabs reaffirmed its financial guidance for the second quarter of 2025, demonstrating continued confidence in its strategic direction despite the change in leadership. The company anticipates quarterly revenue in the range of $124 million to $132 million, reflecting strong demand across multiple sectors and a continued shift toward on-demand digital manufacturing services.
The company also expects diluted net income per share between $0.11 and $0.19, while projecting non-GAAP diluted EPS between $0.30 and $0.38. These metrics reflect Protolabs’ balanced focus on profitability, reinvestment into digital technologies, and expansion of its partner network.
The company emphasized that these figures are in line with its long-term objectives and demonstrate its resilience in a dynamic macroeconomic environment.
Understanding the Market Opportunity
Digital manufacturing is rapidly transforming the way products are conceived, designed, and produced. The rise of Industry 4.0 technologies—including AI, IoT, robotics, and advanced simulation—has made rapid, flexible manufacturing not just viable but essential. Protolabs has been at the forefront of this shift by leveraging automation, additive manufacturing (3D printing), CNC machining, injection molding, and sheet metal fabrication to offer customers rapid production capabilities at scale.
With global manufacturing increasingly moving toward distributed, digital-first production models, Protolabs stands out as a leader thanks to its early investments in digital infrastructure, software automation, and a robust partner ecosystem. The company’s integrated platform allows it to turn around complex parts in as little as a single day—a critical advantage for industries where speed-to-market and iterative design are crucial.
What Krishna’s Appointment Signals for Investors and Stakeholders
From an investor’s perspective, the leadership transition signals a new phase of execution-oriented growth. Krishna’s previous success in revitalizing operations and scaling businesses positions him as a CEO who can drive performance while preserving the company’s innovation DNA.
Under his leadership at Northern Tool + Equipment, Krishna implemented several transformative strategies, including:
- Re-engineering supply chain operations to reduce costs and improve agility
- Launching digital and omnichannel initiatives to enhance customer engagement
- Scaling internal talent development programs to foster a culture of innovation
These experiences are expected to translate well to Protolabs as it seeks to expand global reach and deepen relationships with enterprise clients.
The Path Forward: Expanding Capabilities, Customers, and Culture
Looking ahead, Krishna is expected to focus on three strategic pillars:
- Operational Scale and Efficiency – Building upon Protolabs’ existing capabilities to create a leaner, more scalable manufacturing operation that supports increased demand and margin improvement.
- Customer-Centric Innovation – Developing solutions tailored to the evolving needs of engineers, designers, and procurement professionals across sectors like medtech, aerospace, and industrial automation.
- Global Ecosystem Expansion – Strengthening and expanding the Protolabs Network, a group of trusted manufacturing partners that complement in-house capabilities and allow Protolabs to offer unparalleled speed, cost efficiency, and part complexity.
The appointment of Suresh Krishna as the new President and CEO of Protolabs represents a bold step toward accelerating the company’s long-term vision of transforming manufacturing through digital technologies. With decades of leadership in complex manufacturing environments, Krishna brings a blend of strategic thinking, operational expertise, and customer-driven leadership that aligns with the core ethos of Protolabs.
As the company reaffirms its financial outlook and doubles down on innovation, automation, and customer value, Protolabs is poised to lead the next era of digital manufacturing. The seamless leadership transition, combined with a strong executive team and board support, ensures that will continue to deliver value to customers and shareholders alike—today and into the future.
