BRUSSELS, Belgium, Sept. 21, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Anton van Rossum (59), who had earlier indicated to the Fortis Board not to extend his contract after August 2005, has decided to hand over his position as CEO to Jean-Paul Votron (53). Until recently, Mr. Votron was Citigroup's CEO Retail Bank for Western Europe, Central Europe, Russia, Middle East and Africa. Jean-Paul Votron will take over as CEO of Fortis on 11 October 2004.
Maurice Lippens, Chairman of Fortis comments: "Anton informed us already at the end of last year that he wished to conclude his professional career at the age of 60, coinciding with the termination of his five year contract with Fortis in 2005. In our concerted search for his successor, we were fortunate that Jean-Paul Votron recently became available. He's extremely well positioned to lead Fortis into the next growth phase.
All of us at Fortis feel great respect for Anton for his decision to allow his successor to take over earlier than anticipated. Anton van Rossum has achieved more in his four years at Fortis than was originally planned. Projected synergies have been realised, Fortis has truly become more one company and we are producing healthy profits. He has led Fortis successfully through very difficult years, preparing Fortis for a prosperous future. The Board and the Fortis community at large are very grateful for what he has contributed to Fortis."
Anton van Rossum says: "As Board member and CEO of Fortis, I have been able, thanks to the commitment of the Executive Committee members and all Fortis staff, to achieve the goals we had set ourselves. I can now hand over to Jean-Paul in the knowledge and conviction that Fortis is better positioned than ever before to enter a new era of growth. I am looking forward to a new phase in my personal life and will follow Fortis with great interest."
Jean-Paul Votron, comments: "I see it as a great honour and challenge to take over from Anton van Rossum and build further on Fortis's success story by developing, with the members of the Executive Committee, the great potential of the people and the businesses of Fortis. Fortis is a respected and leading financial institution. It is still the first successful cross- border company in the industry."
Appendix: short CV Jean-Paul Votron
Fortis is an integrated financial services provider active in the fields of banking and insurance. With a market capitalization of EUR 24.4 billion (31/08/2004) and around 53,000 employees, Fortis ranks in the top 20 European financial institutions. In its home market, the Benelux countries, Fortis occupies a leading position which it aims to develop and bolster. Fortis is drawing on the expertise it has acquired in its home market to realize its European ambitions via growth platforms. Fortis also operates successfully worldwide in selected activities. In specific countries in Europe and Asia it effectively exploits its know-how and experience in bancassurance. Fortis is listed on the exchanges of Amsterdam, Brussels and Luxembourg and has a sponsored ADR programme in the United States. More information is available on www.fortis.com
CV Jean-Paul Votron
Jean-Paul Votron started his career in 1975 at Unilever, where he had management responsibilities in international sales, marketing and general management. Between 1991 and 1997 he served in different positions with Citibank in Europe and the US. He was President of Citibank Belgium and Marketing Director for Europe, Director of Marketing and technology U.S. and Europe Consumer Bank, Director Insurance in the U.S., Head of U.S. Investment Business (Chicago), and Chairman and CEO of Citibank FSB, a branch network in the U.S.
After working with ABN-AMRO as Senior Executive Vice-President International Consumer Banking and E-Commerce from 1997 until 2001, he rejoined Citigroup, where he was appointed a member of the Management Committee of Citigroup in 2002. Until recently, Mr. Votron was Citigroup's CEO Retail Bank for Western Europe, Central Europe, Russia, Middle East and Africa.
He graduated from ICHEC College in Brussels in 1973 with a master's degree in Commercial and Financial Sciences, followed by a special degree in Business Strategies and International Management. Jean-Paul Votron is 53, married, with two Children. He has Belgian nationality.
Photographs http://hugin.info/134212/R/961273/138701.pdf