Eastman Kodak President and Chief Operating Officer Antonio M. Perez will become Chief Executive Officer of the company as Daniel A. Carp. plans to retire.

Perez will begin his role as CEO as of June 1, although Carp will not begin his retirement until the first of January. Carp has been with the company for 35 years.

Perez will remain President as he becomes CEO. Carp, who is currently Chairman and CEO, will continue to act as Chairman until his retirement. Perez will then become Chairman as well.

“Kodak is privileged to have the strategic vision and experience of Dan Carp and Antonio Perez to lead us through this challenging transformation,” said Richard S. Braddock, Presiding Director of Kodak’s Board of Directors. “Dan embraced the digital opportunity, and recruited Antonio as the leader who will advance Kodak’s success in digital markets. Both have focused on guiding customers through the industry’s technology shift, by developing a broad portfolio of digital products and services to complement the company’s silver halide offerings.”

Carp, who is 57 years old, became President and COO of the company in 1997, then was elected to the Board the same year. He became CEO and Chairman in 2000. He originally joined the company in 1970 as a statistical analyst.

“It has been an honor to lead this great company through a time of unprecedented change,” Carp said. “I am proud of the progress made by Kodak people, and I am proud of the management team that we have assembled to lead us into digital markets.

Perez who is 59 years old, joined the company two years ago after spending 25 years at Hewlett-Packard, where he was a corporate vice president and a member of the company’s Executive Council.

Chris is a staff writer for Murdok. Visit Murdok for the latest ebusiness news.