Salaerts will report to John W. Conway, Crown's chairman and CEO and will be based in Singapore.
William Voss, age 62, who held the position from 1996 until his return to the United States in late 2006 will be retiring from the Company on August 1, 2007.
Conway says, "Under Bill's direction, the Asia-Pacific Division's rigid packaging business enjoyed a decade of robust and profitable growth. We wish him well.
"At the same time, we are fortunate to have someone of Jozef's calibre to head the Division going forward as we continue to grow and improve. We are highly confident that his leadership and managerial skills, as well as his knowledge of our business and markets, will be a tremendous asset for Crown in Asia and throughout the Company."
Salaerts is being promoted from his current position as senior vice president of the Asia-Pacific Division. Prior to that, he served as the Division's vice president for South East Asia & Closures and as its vice president and chief financial officer.
Salaerts joined Crown in 1989 in its Belgian operations and was later promoted to finance director for the company's European Division. He subsequently served in other positions of increasing responsibility in both the European Division and at corporate offices.
He has an undergraduate degree in Applied Economics and a graduate degree of Engineer in Applied Economics from the University of Antwerp, Belgium.
Crown makes a wide range of metal packaging for food, beverage, personal care, household and industrial products and can making equipment.
The Company's business is structured geographically within three divisions: Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific. The Asia-Pacific Division is comprised of 13 plants in six countries, employing approximately 1900 people. In 2006, 2005 and 2004, the Division had net sales of approximately US$482m, US$422m and US$361m, respectively.
Crown Holdings, Inc, through its affiliated companies, is a leading supplier of packaging products to consumer marketing companies around the world. World headquarters are located in Philadelphia, PA, USA.
