With effect from January 1, 2002 KBA has acquired a majority interest in its Swiss sales and service agency, Print Assist AG in Hoeri, which has served the graphic arts industry since 1988 and in that time has contributed substantially to KBA's success in the Swiss market. On January next year, when KBA takes a majority stake in Print Assist, Peter J. Rickenmann (centre) will become CEO Operations, succeeding Werner Furrer (right), who will become chairman of the board. On the left is Reinhart Siewert, president of KBA and a member of the Print Assist board Werner Furrer (58), founder, board member, CEO and majority shareholder, has thus settled the question of succession and safeguarded the future of a company that is highly respected in the Swiss media industry. In preparation for the change in ownership Print Assist's board of directors has appointed Peter J. Rickenmann (36) CEO Operations. Peter J. Rickenmann is currently head of sheetfed offset sales at Swiss trading company Chromos in Glattbrugg, which he joined in 1995. A trained offset printer, Mr Rickenmann also took a degree in management at St. Gallen University and previously helped run the family business, Rickenmann AG. Following the change of ownership at Print Assist, Werner Furrer will become company chairman, in which capacity he will be jointly responsible, with Mr Rickenmann, for KBA web press business. KBA president Reinhart Siewert will continue to represent our interests on the Print Assist board, which he joined when KBA took a minority stake in the company in 1999.