BRUSSELS, Belgium — The European Council of the Paint, Printing Ink and Artists’ Colours Industry (CEPE) announced the election of Neville Petersen, formerly CEO of Courtaulds Coatings, as president during the organization’s General Assembly in Dresden, Germany. Petersen succeeds Franz Josef Rankl, who retired after six years as CEPE president.

Petersen has 41 years of experience in the coatings industry, beginning in 1959 in the laboratories of Herbert Evans & Co. Ltd. in South Africa. Petersen was CEO of Courtaulds Coatings worldwide from 1992 to 1998, and was named senior group director of Akzo Nobel Coatings in 1998. He retired on April 30 of this year.