DSM Desotech, a world leader in the development of ultraviolet light (UV) curable materials, is pleased to announce the appointments of Mr. Steve Hartig as President and Mr. Patrick Niels as Vice President of Fiber Optic Materials, effective April 1, 2003.

Mr. Hartig joined DSM Desotech in 1999 as Vice President of Marketing.  He previously served as Vice President of Sales, Marketing and R&D for DSM Engineering Plastics in Evansville, Indiana.  Mr. Hartig holds a Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan and held several sales/marketing positions with DuPont before joining the global DSM organization in 1990.  He succeeds Mr. Jan Paul de Vries, who will assume the position of Business Group Director, DSM Composite Resins, in Switzerland.

Mr. Patrick Niels succeeds Mr. Hartig as Vice President of Fiber Optic Materials.  Previously Business Manager Polyesters for DSM Coating Resins in Zwolle, the Netherlands, Mr. Niels joined DSM in 1998, when DSM acquired Gist-Brocades.  Prior to this, he held various sales/ marketing positions with Gist-Brocades since 1991.  Mr. Niels holds a BBA degree from Nijen-rode, the Netherlands School of Business, and an MBA from Emory University in Atlanta, GA.

DSM Desotech is the world's leading supplier of specialty UV-curable materials for the production of glass optical fiber and optical cable, as well as leading developer of UV-curable coatings, adhesives and solid imaging resins used in a variety of other industries including automotive, displays, aerospace and consumer electronics.    The company operates as a business unit of DSM N.V. — a world leader in chemicals, performance materials and life science products (www.dsm.com).

DSM Desotech operates facilities in the U.S., Europe and Japan, and supports a global network of sales agents.   For more information, visit www.dsmdesotech.com.