Christophe Aussenac has become as Fespa’s 18th president, replacing outgoing president Christian Duyckaerts whom he has supported as vice president since 2017.
Mr Aussenac, who officially took up his new role at an assembly of Fespa’s national associations at the recent Global Print Expo 2021 in Amsterdam, will hold the position for three years. Meanwhile Mr Duyckaerts will become Fespa’s Asia Ambassador as well as taking up the general duties of a Fespa board member, in addition to his active involvement with the Belgian national Association.
‘Assuming the presidency during Fespa’s first live event since 2019 is a proud and emotional moment after such an extraordinary period in our professional and personal lives,’ said Mr Aussenac, who has been a Fespa board member since 2014 and also leads Fespa France. ‘As a speciality printer myself, I believe that Fespa has a vital role to play in supporting our global community to continue to evolve, innovate and rise to the challenges and opportunities that face us, in particular the imperative to place more emphasis on environmental responsibility.
‘This is a critical time for our members. The prolonged global pandemic has put multiple pressures on print businesses, and owners are now re-building and re-imagining their future, with a stronger focus than ever on topics like production efficiency, diversification and automation. Looking ahead to 2022, we hope for the successful resumption of all our global Fespa events, and to being able to re-engage with all members of our community in the real world.’
The wider Fespa board also received an injection of fresh blood, with Alberto Masserdotti, founder of the Masserdotti Group in Italy and Wouter Van As, commercial director of Van As in The Netherlands, being appointed in place of the departed Anders Nilsson and Enrico Steijn.
Fespa says its board now brings together direct print and visual communications expertise across sectors and applications including promotional graphics, conventional and digital signage, retail interiors, labels, industrial print, interior décor, textile print and garments.
