Business News
Punch Graphix strengthens management team with Chief Marketing Strategy Officer
Friday 29. February 2008 - Punch Graphix nv (Punch Graphix) today announced the appointment of Paul Willems as Chief Marketing Strategy Officer. As of 1 March 2008 he will be responsible for the global marketing activities for the Punch Graphix brand products Xeikon and basysPrint, as well as for developing and setting the strategy for the Punch Graphix group.
Paul Willems (born 1964) has over 15 years experience in the global graphic arts industry, covering prepress and digital printing. Paul joins Punch Graphix from McKinsey where he was Global Senior Manager of the McKinsey Strategy Practice. Prior to this he held several senior management positions at NexPress, a joint venture of Kodak and Heidelberg, and later a subsidiary of Kodak Graphic Communications Group, managing the strategy and marketing of NexPress professional solutions and services worldwide. After the take-over, he also conducted and managed the integration activities in the entire EAME region. His earlier career was spent in senior marketing and management roles at Agfa-Gevaert and as a Management Consultant at McKinsey, focusing on strategy development for high-tech industries and Direct Marketing projects. Paul Willems graduated as Master of Industrial Sciences. In addition, he holds a Masters degree in Commercial Engineering and an MBA.
“We are delighted that Paul is joining us,” stated Wim Deblauwe, CEO of Punch Graphix. “He brings a wealth of industry expertise and deep knowledge of management and strategy from his time at McKinsey. His addition to our management team puts us in an excellent position to create further growth opportunities for the company and to extend the value we bring to our customers and the markets they serve.”
Commenting on his new appointment, Paul Willems said: “I am excited to join Punch Graphix because the group has an excellent portfolio of leading products, well acclaimed by its customers. I believe there is huge potential in the core technologies the group is developing and that very exciting opportunities lie ahead. Its extremely committed management team and supportive shareholders all share the same strong growth ambitions. That is why I am looking forward to working with the rest of the team to further define Punch Graphixs strategy and take the group to its next level of success.”
Punch Graphix today also announced its results for the financial year ended 31 December 2007. Paul Willemss appointment ties in with the groups ambition to achieve growth at least in line with that expected for the graphic market as a whole.