Hagemeyer appoints Paul Zekhuis chief operating officer

AMSTERDAM (Thomson Financial) - Hagemeyer NV said it had appointed Paul Zekhuis as chief operating officer, with immediate effect.

Zekhuis will also retain his current responsibility as chief executive officer Central Europe.

The supervisory board will propose appointing Zekhuis to the management board at the next AGM.

Hagemeyer said the appointment will provide the necessary operational continuity in preparation for the retirement of Hagemeyer's group CEO Rudi de Becker in April 2008.

'It will also strengthen the focus on operational performance while, at the present time, both the CEO and CFO are heavily involved in dealing with an unsolicited intended takeover offer,' Hagemeyer said.

French peer Sonepar recently made a 4.25 eur/share offer for Hagemeyer, which Hagemeyer believes 'significantly undervalues the company'.

Sonepar has since built up a 10.24 pct stake in Hagemeyer. Aaron Gray-Block; [e-mail] agb/jrr COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2007. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Thomson Financial News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Financial News.