The company says in a statement that it will shortly begin the process of appointing a new CEO. Until this appointment is concluded, Jan Smits, chief financial officer, will assume the role of acting CEO. He will be assisted by Ken Humphreys, one of the company’s non-executive directors, who will until further notice work for the company for three days a week.

Geoffrey White, chairman of Punch Graphix, says, “We are deeply saddened by Dick’s death, which was wholly unexpected. Dick had made an enormous contribution to the development of Punch Graphix. He will be greatly missed by all his friends and colleagues at Punch Graphix, and we extend our deepest sympathies to his family.”

Jan Smits, aged 47, was appointed CFO of Punch Graphix on its formation in March 2005. He joined parent company, Punch International, as finance director in 1990 and in 1999 became managing director whilst retaining responsibility for finance and administration. He was involved in the initial public offering of Punch International in 1999.

Smits started his career at Coopers & Lybrand in Belgium and was later in a senior financial role at Massive International. Jan studied as a Commercial Engineer at the University of Antwerp (Belgium) and Tax Science at Sint-Aloysius College in Brussels (Belgium).

Ken Humphreys, aged 58, spent 35 years with Royal Philips Electronics BV working in the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium and Austria in a range of senior positions including that of executive vice president of the Consumer Electronics Division.

Punch Graphix designs, develops and delivers digital printing and prepress solutions for the global graphics industry. Its main brands are Xeikon and basysprint.

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