KANSAI HELIOS announced that Mr. Dietmar Jost, currently executive director, will become a new president and executive director of the KANSAI HELIOS Group as of April 1, 2023. He was elected president based on his deep and extensive understanding and leadership in sales and R&D for the entire group to further strengthen our system supplier strategy.

Mr. Junichi Kajima, who is the current president and executive director of the Group, is invited back to KANSAI PAINT Japan to strengthen the management team there and to take on new assignments and professional challenges from April 1. During the past years he was leading the entire KANSAI HELIOS Group and strengthened our bond with KANSAI PAINT Japan in various fields.

Mr. Bastian Krauss, currently executive director, will become executive vice president and executive director of the Group on April 1. He will continue to manage the group-wide production and operations areas, as well as the further integration and development of our powder coatings business.

Taking turns with Mr. Kajima, Mr. Yoshihiro Tanaka from KANSAI PAINT Japan will join the Group Management Board as executive director in April after his relocation to Austria and is looking forward to getting to know the group companies personally.

Mr. Mitsuru Masunaga, dispatched from Mitsui & Co., Ltd., continues in his position of executive vice president and executive director of the Group with focus on corporate functions, including compliance and M&A.

The new Group Management Board continues expanding the "good to great" strategy and follows on the successful course of KANSAI HELIOS.