New appointments into the EMD board of directors

Pfäffikon/Switzerland. European Marketing Distribution AG (EMD) announces several changes to positions within its Board of Directors: during the shareholders' general meeting in Stockholm, the Swedish Axfood Manager Johan Neuman was elected vice-chairman. Neuman took the office over from Franz-Friedrich Müller from Markant AG, who retired after many years of actively supporting and guiding EMD as vice-president. Müller will remain member of the EMD management board.

The management body also welcomed a new member: Jaap van Vreden (Dutch national, age 57). Van Vreden has extensive experience in buying, marketing, category management and merchandising and serves as Sourcing and Procurement Director at Lenta, the Nr 1 hypermarket chain in Russia.

Maniele Tasca will continue to be President of the EMD Board of Directors. Tasca: “We extend to Jaap van Vreden a very warm welcome and we look forward to a fruitful cooperation. Jaap has played a leading role in building up the internationally acknowledged purchasing divisions of Lenta and will strengthen our Board of Directors with immediate effect.”

The EMD Board of Directors comprises now the following members and functions:

- President: Maniele Tasca, (ESD Italia)

- Vice-president: Johan Neuman (Axfood)

- Franz Friedrich Müller (Markant AG)

- Jaime Rodríguez (Euromadi Iberica)

- Dick Roozen (Superunie)

- Jaap van Vreden (Lenta).

About EMD

European Marketing Distribution AG, with headquarters in Pfäffikon, Switzerland, has been acknowledged since 1989 as an efficient and high-performing partner for Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) by the consumer goods industries. The leading associated group operates now together with its member companies in 20 countries in Europe, Oceania and Asia.

The member companies of European Marketing Distribution (EMD) are active in the following markets:

Netherlands: Superunie Sweden: Axfood

Germany: Markant Denmark: Dagrofa

Switzerland: Markant Czech Republic: Markant

Spain: Euromadi Slovakia: Markant

Portugal: EuromadiPort Poland: Kaufland

Austria: Markant Croatia: Kaufland

Italy: ESD Italia Romania: Kaufland

Norway: Unil/Norgesgruppen Bulgaria: Kaufland

Australia: Woolworths Russia: Lenta

South Korea: Homeplus New Zealand: Countdown (Woolworths)

Picture is available at AP Images (http://www.apimages.com)

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