LUXEMBOURG—August 7, 2007—Flint Group, the world’s largest privately-owned supplier to the printing, converting, and colourant industries, has announced that Charles Knott will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer effective from 1 September 2007. He will succeed Dave Frescoln, who will become Deputy Chairman of the company’s Boards.
Knott has had a successful career leading and developing global speciality chemical companies within Unilever plc and ICI plc. Key positions that he has held include President and Chief Operating Officer of National Starch & Chemical, based in North America, and Executive Vice President Asia-Pacific, based for six years in Singapore where he developed business in all areas of the Far East, in particular in China. Most recently he has served for four years as Chairman and CEO of Quest International, a flavours and fragrances subsidiary of ICI until its sale to Givaudan in early 2007. Knott was a member of the Executive Board of ICI and is currently a non-executive director of Imperial Tobacco Group plc.
Having joined Flint Ink in 1992 as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Frescoln was elected President in late 1992, and became Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in 2005. Following the union of Flint Ink with XSYS Print Solutions in 2005, he became CEO of the newly created Flint Group.
In his new role, Frescoln will continue in a full-time capacity, with responsibility for representing Flint Group in relation to the outside trade environment, trade associations and major customer groups. In addition, he will lead the Group’s further development in emerging economies.
Flint Group Chairman Howard Poulson noted that the company’s Board has expressed its strong support of the transition. “We believe this succession strengthens our senior executive team and provides a strong basis for our next stage of growth and development,” he said.
About Flint Group
Flint Group is dedicated to serving the global printing, converting, graphic arts and colour consuming industries with five specialised business units: Flint Group’s ink companies develop and market a wide range of conventional and UV printing inks on a global basis, with regional operations providing local service throughout the world. Flint Group Printing Plates specialises in photopolymer printing plates, washout solvents and platemaking equipment. XSYS Print Solutions is dedicated to the narrow web ink market, including labels, product decoration and package printing. Flint Group Pigments produces a range of pigment products and additives for use in inks and other colourant applications. Day International develops and distributes offset printing blankets and sleeves, pressroom chemicals, flexographic sleeve systems and diecutting supplies. Headquartered in Luxembourg, Flint Group operates more than 170 facilities worldwide and employs some 8300 people. Estimated revenues for 2007 are ? 2.55 billion ($US 3.32 billion), positioning the company as the number one or number two supplier in every major region it serves. For more information, please visit www.flintgrp.com.
National Starch and Chemical (NSC) is a leading global specialty chemical company, and a subsidiary of ICI plc. With sales of US$3.7Bn and employing over 9000 people, it is headquartered in Bridgewater, New Jersey, USA and has manufacturing and customer service centres in 39 countries. It has four divisions, Adhesives, Electronic Materials, Specialty Polymers and Specialty Starches that service a wide range of industries from graphic arts to semi-conductors, food to construction, and paper to personal care.
Quest International, a leading supplier of flavours and fragrances to the food and personal care industry, was a wholly owned subsidiary of ICI plc. Employing over 3400 people and headquartered in Naarden, The Netherlands, the company had manufacturing and creative centers in over 35 countries. Quest, which had sales of $1.2Bn, was sold to Givaudan for £1.2Bn at a multiple of 15xEBITDA in March 2007.
- Companies:
- Flint Group