ORANGE COUNTY

General Automation Inc. of Anaheim said it has hired Irvin Ella to fill the new position of vice president and managing director of the company’s European operations.

Ella, 45, is leaving McDonnell Douglas Computer Systems Co. to head General Automation’s operations in nine European nations, which accounted for about half of the company’s $29 million in revenue last year. He will relocate from Mission Viejo to the London area.

General Automation said Ella is responsible for McDonnell Douglas’ successful penetration of the computer systems market in Great Britain. General Automation’s principal product line is the Zebra group of multi-user computer systems.