Palm Beach Gardens, FL, and Jena, Germany, October 10, 2006 – Cross Match Technologies, Inc., a leading global provider of high-quality interoperable biometric identity applications and solutions, today announced the appointment of Gerhart S. Ernst as Managing Director of the Company's subsidiary Cross Match Technologies GmbH in Jena, Germany. Mr. Ernst will be responsible for the overall management of Cross Match Technologies GmbH, as well as overseeing and growing Cross Match's International business operations, including global initiatives in Europe, Asia Pacific and other key geographies. As a key member of Cross Match's senior management team, Mr. Ernst will play a critical role in executing Cross Match's overall business strategy.
Mr. Ernst joins Cross Match from International Security Consulting Berlin (ISC Berlin), a firm which he founded in August, 2005 to provide security consulting services to hospitality, transportation, healthcare and construction companies. Prior to forming ISC Berlin, Mr. Ernst was Managing Director of ASSA ABLOY Sicherheitstechnik GmbH, formerly IKON AG Germany's market leader in high end locking solutions. At ASSA ABLOY Germany, Mr. Ernst had direct responsibility for the sales and marketing division as well as managing subsidiaries in Holland, Belgium, Austria and Switzerland. During this time, he was also a member of ASSA ABLOY's Central European executive board. In addition, Mr. Ernst previously held senior positions in sales and marketing for one of Germany's leading utility companies Vattenfall Europe, formerly Vereinigte Energiewerke AG. Earlier in his career, Mr. Ernst held management positions in Europe and the United States for Joy Holding AG and Herlitz AG.
"I am thrilled to be joining Cross Match at such an exciting time in the company's history, and I look forward to building upon the current success, working alongside a talented and dedicated team," Mr. Ernst said. "Cross Match, with its excellent reputation in providing biometric identity applications and solutions, will play a significant role in assisting countries across the globe to achieve their objectives of enhancing national security and ensuring public safety."
"We are delighted that Gerhart Ernst is joining our international senior management team and we are confident that he will be a strong and innovative leader with his solid business acumen and extensive global management and marketing experience," said James W. Ziglar, president and chief executive officer of Cross Match Technologies, Inc. "Cross Match is committed to investing in international markets and in continuing to strengthen our global presence."
