BASEL, Switzerland – Axalta 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, said, “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 said, “I am delighted to be part of such an esteemed organization 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 organization studying scientific and technical data that concerns the European paint, printing inks and artists’ colors industries.