Jeff S. Pickard in the Executive Board of ‘the Facultatieve Group’

During the General Shareholders’ Meeting, Mr. Jeff S. Pickard was appointed, being unanimously nominated by the Board of Supervisors and the Executive Board as a Member of the Executive Board of ‘the Facultatieve Group’. This appointment is effective as of 1st July 2008. Mr. Pickard’s responsibility on the Board will be the new ‘Technology’ portfolio, an area of attention which has become increasingly important when considering the developments within ‘the Facultatieve Group’. Mr. Pickard is also Vice President of Facultatieve Technologies Holding and Hygeco International subsidiaries. His appointment on the Executive Board will not affect those functions.