LONG BEACH, Calif.--April 3, 2002--Epson America Inc. announced that effective today Norio Niwa, president and chief executive officer of Epson America, has been promoted to senior managing director and chief executive of Seiko Epson Corporation's Imaging and Information Products Division and to chairman of both Epson America and Epson Europe B.V. John Lang, senior executive vice president and chief operating officer for Epson America, has been promoted to replace Niwa as president and chief executive officer. Niwa will be responsible for global imaging technology, product development and digital imaging business strategy. In addition, he will oversee all U.S. and European operations. In his new role, Niwa will be relocating to Japan. "The global demands of the digital imaging industry require market leaders to meet wide-ranging customer needs faster and more efficiently than ever before," said Norio Niwa. "This promotion enables me to lend my expertise to a much larger arena." As CEO of Epson America, Lang will be responsible for driving the company's continued leadership in the burgeoning digital imaging marketplace and continued growth and innovation in the retail point-of-sale industry. Lang will oversee Epson America's sales and marketing, distribution, product development and business strategy. "I'm honored and excited to take on the role of President and CEO for Epson America," said John Lang, "As the market is experiencing continued growth, Epson's leadership is defining new ways for consumers, businesses and professionals to take even greater advantage of the power of digital imaging." Norio Niwa Background: Under Niwa's leadership, Epson America has grown to be one of the strongest subsidiaries of Seiko Epson Corporation. Before coming to the U.S. in 1973, Niwa held business planning, sales and marketing management positions at Seiko Epson, where he helped launch the company's first international sales and marketing office in Tokyo. Niwa first came to the U.S. as a representative of the Shinshu Seiki Co., an OEM supplier of printer components, which was renamed Epson in 1975. As marketing manager, he was integral to the company's expansion into a sales and service organization for computer and printerproducts, directing all Epson America product development and communication among manufacturing, marketing and sales entities for the Western Hemisphere. Niwa returned to Seiko Epson headquarters in 1981 as head of international sales and marketing. In 1987, he was named deputy corporate general manager and contributed to the formation of the Epson European headquarters in Amsterdam. As executive vice president, Niwa returned to Epson America in 1990, and was named president and CEO in 1992. Niwa earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Japan's Yokohama National University, 1969, and completed studies at the Institute for International Studies and Training in Fujinomiya City, Shizuoka, Japan, 1971. John Lang Background: Lang has been overseeing Epson America's branded marketing, sales, and customer service and support functions for North and South America for the past seven years. During his tenure, Epson has built a strong sales and marketing program, focusing on outstanding customer service and unparalleled operational efficiency. Under Lang's leadership, Epson has grown branded market share, moved into the graphics, professional photography and projector markets, and has continued the momentum by introducing a succession of breakthrough products for these markets. Lang joined Epson America in 1987 as vice president of Finance. He was promoted to executive vice president of Corporate Support, overseeing Finance, Information Systems and Operations, in 1990 and was named to the board of directors in 1991, providing strategic input toward growth and profitability objectives. Lang was named executive vice president of Operations in 1993 and senior executive vice president and chief operating officer in 1995. Before joining Epson, Lang was a management consultant for retail, manufacturing, entertainment and financial service clients at Coopers and Lybrand, now PricewaterhouseCoopers, the world's largest accounting, auditing and consulting firm. He received a bachelor of science degree in accounting from Villanova University, of Villanova, Pa.