Punch Graphix has announced today the appointment of the new company Chief Executive officer, Ben C. Van Assche.

The 60 year old Belgian citizen is replacing Dick Tilanus as Chief Executive Officer of Punch Graphix plc (LSE AIM: PGX) who passed away unexpectedly last January.

Ben’s extensive 35 years career in the chemical, pharmaceutical and health care industries includes global assignments in large and mid size companies such as Cytec, UCB, Alcon and Baxter.

Before joining Punch Graphix, Ben was President of Cytec Surface Specialties, world leading manufacturer of coating, ink resins and adhesives. He was a member of the Executive Committee of Cytec group (NYSE: CYT) and CEO of Cytec Surface Specialties NV. based in Brussels, Belgium. Previously, he worked for UCB group (EURONEXT) and was a member of the Executive Committee, in charge of the Chemical Sector which later became Surface Specialties and was acquired by Cytec early 2005.

Ben successfully led a large transformation program on acquisition, divestment and integration within the UCB and Cytec groups.

Geoff. White, Chairman of Punch Graphix said: “We are extremely pleased to welcome Ben onboard. Ben will provide to Punch Graphix continuity in the successful company management style set by Dick Tilanus. He will bring a clear strategic focus to serve our internal and external global growth ambition through a strong marketing driven and technology based approach.”

Ben C. Van Assche (1946) was until recently a member of the Executive Committee at Cytec Industries Inc. (NYSE: CYT) and President of Cytec Surface Specialties, a world leading manufacturer of coating resins, ink resins and adhesives with sales of 1.5 bio US $ and 3200 employees.

Graduated as a Civil Engineer from KUL (University of Louvain, Belgium), Ben Van Assche holds a postgraduate degree in Business Administration from Vlerick Leuven-Gent Management School (Belgium). After practical experience in the copper mining industry in the Republic of Congo, he complemented his education at Sloan School-MIT (USA), where he graduated as a M. Sc. in Management Sciences. At this point he joined the health care industry, first at Baxter in the USA, Belgium and Norway and then at Alcon (pharmaceutical company of the Nestlé Group) in Europe. In 1985 he started at UCB Pharma and in 1987 became its Director-General and member of the Executive Committee of the UCB Group (member of EURONEXT Brussels’ index). In 1997, he took over the general management of the Chemical Sector, which later became Surface Specialties S.A. and was acquired by Cytec early 2005.

Ben Van Assche chaired the Federation of Belgian Chemical Industries and has served on the Boards of Pharma.be (Association of Pharmaceutical companies in Belgium) and of the Associate Business Members of CEFIC (European Chemical Industry Council).

About Punch Graphix
Punch Graphix provides innovative, competitive and environmental friendly imaging and printing solutions for the global graphics industry. Under the Xeikon brand name, Punch Graphix designs, develops and delivers high-end digital colour printing systems, software and consumables for the commercial, document printing and industrial markets. Under the basysPrint brand, Punch Graphix designs, develops and delivers mid to high-end imaging systems for offset prepress commercial markets. With a clear-minded focus on R&D, Punch Graphix is solely dedicated to customer satisfaction and aims to deliver cost-effective graphic excellence that goes beyond all expectations.
www.punchgraphix.com