U.S.-based LED manufacturer Daktronics has announced the appointment of Ramesh Jayaraman as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective February 1, 2026. Jayaraman succeeds longtime CEO Reece Kurtenbach, who stepped down in March following a high-profile dispute with activist investors.
Daktronics: New CEO Amid Strategic Shift
The leadership change marks a potential turning point for Daktronics after years of pressure from activist investor Alta Fox, which began accumulating shares in 2022 and pushed for sweeping changes. Alta Fox criticized Daktronics’ financial performance (Sixteen:Nine report), governance, and strategic direction, arguing the company was undervalued and needed fresh leadership. The campaign led to boardroom tensions and ultimately Kurtenbach’s resignation, though he remained as an advisor during the transition.
Since March, Brad Wiemann, Executive Vice President, has served as interim CEO and President. Upon board approval, Jayaraman will also join the company’s board, while Kurtenbach will step down completely.
Who is Ramesh Jayaraman?
Jayaraman brings over 25 years of global operations experience and a reputation for driving transformational change. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President and Americas Integration Leader for Bosch Home Comfort, overseeing integration and growth initiatives. His career spans leadership roles across Bosch’s global Energy & Building Technologies portfolio, Harman Professional Solutions (where he led APAC operations), Ariston Thermo Group, and Tyco/ADT.
With an MBA from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a mechanical engineering degree from Delhi College of Engineering, Jayaraman combines technical expertise with strategic vision—skills Daktronics hopes will accelerate its evolution in a competitive LED market.
The appointment enables Daktronics to focus on operational efficiency and growth after years of investor-driven turbulence.
