Flint Group appoints new chief executive

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Flint Group, a privately-owned supplier to the printing, converting and colorant 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 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 flavors 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.


Frescoln was elected president in late 1992, having joined Flint Ink in 1992 as vice president, chief financial officer, 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.