De La Rue Cash Systems Inc. Appoints Distinguished Technology Expert Paul C. Thomas President

LISLE, Ill., Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- De La Rue Cash Systems announced today the appointment of Paul C. Thomas as president following the retirement of Gary D. Mroz. Mr. Mroz led De La Rue through 12 years of successful growth and market leadership, leaving behind a legacy of excellence to be continued by Thomas.

"Following Gary's exemplary leadership, we knew we needed to find an exceptional candidate who could continue to drive financial success while maintaining the company's tradition of quality and innovation," said John Smith, Senior Vice President of De La Rue Cash Systems, Inc. "Having served in the United States Army, worked as a communicator and led systems integrations strategies as COO of a major company, Paul has a unique combination of experiences needed to address all aspects of leadership, from managing quality control to growing the company's public visibility to increasing De La Rue's market share."

A pioneer in the cash-handling industry, De La Rue is the only company to operate over the entire cash cycle. With more implementations worldwide than any other cash handling company, De La Rue applies its deep experience and a constant stream of industry intelligence to develop second-to-none products that strengthen the relationship between teller and customer. As the company grows to develop new technologies and include additional products and services into its portfolio, Paul Thomas will be able to apply his experience directly to the company's strategic growth objectives.

"With installations in more than eighty percent of financial institutions using teller cash automation systems, De La Rue is already in a desirable position," said Thomas. "I am pleased to be a part of such an accomplished team that has clearly created an environment for great success where I can apply my experience for even further industry leadership."

As president of De La Rue Cash Systems, Thomas is responsible for the overall performance of the cash systems business, including business strategy, sales and marketing programs, field operations, business development initiatives and related business plans and budgets. With a wealth of experience in leading a variety of initiatives at once, Thomas says he's pleased to be in a role that allows him to broaden his competencies and knowledge.

"My experience in both the military and business arenas has taught me that success follows innovation," said Thomas. "That's why I'm thrilled to be with a company that's leading its industry; I welcome the opportunity to focus my energy on developing creative strategies to enhance our already top-of-the-line solutions and to aggressively build upon our enviable market position."

Previously Thomas served as vice president and chief operations officer at Computer Sciences Corporation's (CSC) North American Public Sector Civil Division. His responsibilities included CSC's work for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, the Department of Transportation, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of the Treasury.

"As we sell our solutions to banks and credit unions, it is critical to communicate how our technologies integrate into the branches' cultures and enhance their abilities to interact with customers," said Smith. "Paul Thomas will be able to share insights from his exemplary career experiences and apply them to our sales and service methodologies."

Prior to joining the business sector, he served in the U.S. Army an aide to General Gary Luck, then Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Forces Command, Republic of Korea. He retired from the Army in 1996.

Thomas graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point with a Bachelor of Science in Business and holds two Master of Science degrees: one in Strategic Intelligence from the Defense Intelligence College in Washington, D.C., and another in Systems Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif. He and his wife Lori Gillaspy live in Naperville, Ill., and have seven children.

About De La Rue

De La Rue is the world's largest commercial security printer and papermaker, involved in the production of more than 150 national currencies and a wide range of security documents, such as travelers checks and vouchers. The Company is a leading provider of cash handling equipment and software solutions to financial institutions and retailers worldwide, helping them to reduce the cost of handling cash. Employing more than 6,200 people across 31 countries, De La Rue is also pioneering new technologies, including tailored solutions to protect the world's brands through to government identity solutions in secure passports, identity cards and driver's licenses.