New Secretary-General for CEI-Bois

Brussels, 28 February 2003

The Managing Board of the European Confederation of Woodworking Industries, CEI-Bois, has decided at its meeting of 18 February 2003 to nominate Mr Filip De Jaeger secretary general of CEI-Bois. Mr De Jaeger had been the deputy secretary general of CEI-Bois since 1994.

Mr De Jaeger succeeds Dr Guy Van Steertegem. Dr Van Steertegem worked for CEI-Bois since 1987. His other business activities did not allow him to continue in the position of CEO of CEI-Bois.

Dr Van Steertegem will continue to make his expertise available as adviser to the Managing Board in specific issues. He will also remain in charge of the finances of CEI-Bois and will be the chairman of the working group that was created to discuss the increased co-operation between the European branch federations of the woodworking industries.

In practical terms, this implies that Mr De Jaeger, who was already in charge of the day-to-day management of the secretariat, will now also take over the external representation of the Confederation. Mr De Jaeger will continue his work for EOS (European Organisation of the Sawmilling Industry), FEP (European Federation of the Parquet Industry) and WEI (Western-European Institute for Wood Preservation). He will be assisted by the advisers of the CEI-Bois staff for all these activities.

From left to right: Dr. Van Steertegem, CEI-Bois chairman Bo Borgström, Filip De Jaeger