Basel, Switzerland – 25 September 2019 – Axalta (NYSE: AXTA), a leading global supplier of liquid and powder coatings, today announced the election of its Business Director for Powder Coatings in Europe, Klaus Gast, to the Board of CEPE, the European Council of the Paint, Printing Ink and Artists’ Colours Industry.

Yves Kerstens, Axalta’s Vice President and President for Europe, Middle East and Africa, says: “As an industry leader and a front-runner in innovation, Axalta’s representation on the Board of CEPE is crucial. We will have an important voice in the agenda-setting of this collaborative body, which in turn means we will be helping to drive the journey of the industry itself. Klaus brings years of invaluable expertise to the table, so I’m confident that he will be an excellent addition to the Board and ultimately to its members.”

Gast, who joined Axalta in August 2018 and is based at the company’s Europe, Middle East and Africa headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, will serve the CEPE Board for a three-year tenure, with the potential to be re-elected for a further three-year term. Gast’s election marks a return for the global coatings giant to the Board of CEPE.

Gast says, “I am delighted to be part of such an esteemed organisation that works tirelessly to support the coatings and inks industries. Axalta’s industry-leading products and services are delivered by some of the most talented people in the industry who I shall be representing in my Board role. I look forward to volunteering my time and to leveraging my extensive experience, as well as Axalta’s market-leading knowledge, for the good of CEPE’s members.”

CEPE is a non-profit organisation studying scientific and technical data that concerns the European paint, printing inks and artists’ colours industries, and sharing information in order to keep members updated and protecting their common interests. The CEPE Board comprises 15 members, who hold either a chief executive or senior executive role within a European organisation.

Gast’s election announcement was made at CEPE's General Assembly on 20 September 2019 in Malta.

For more information and to visit Axalta’s newsroom, please visit www.axalta.com 

About Axalta

Axalta is a leading global company focused solely on coatings and providing customers with innovative, colourful, beautiful and sustainable solutions. From light OEM vehicles, commercial vehicles and refinish applications to electric motors, buildings and pipelines, our coatings are designed to prevent corrosion, increase productivity and enable the materials we coat to last longer. With more than 150 years of experience in the coatings industry, the 14,000 people of Axalta continue to find ways to serve our more than 100,000 customers in 130 countries better every day with the finest coatings, application systems and technology. For more information visit axalta.com and follow us @Axalta on Twitter and on LinkedIn.