Marian Waterschoot named director of Apex Embossing

Apex International has appointed Marian Waterschoot as the new director of Apex Embossing. As the current CEO of Apex International, Waterschoot will be succeeded by Ruud van Cuijk as she moves into her new role in the embossing industry, beginning May 1, 2023.  

Waterschoot has led Apex International as chief executive officer for the past 22 years. She joined Apex International in 1990, one year after the Ralton family introduced Apex Netherlands to the printing industry. Navigating various management positions within the company for over a decade, Waterschoot became CEO in the Spring of 2001.  

Through her strategic leadership, Apex International has grown into a world-renowned manufacturer of anilox, metering and now embossing roll products. Throughout the years, Waterschoot led the company in various initiatives, including the start of their laser engraving division, sleeve and base roll production, and research and development for the GTT2.0 anilox engraving. She was CEO during their expansion into seven global manufacturing sites, strategically located around the world. Waterschoot played an integral role in implementing the company’s long term growth initiative, ‘Vision: 2020s’, spearheading significant company expansion and investments to address anticipated industry growth.   

In 2022, Waterschoot introduced Apex International to the embossing industry. Through her efforts, Apex International acquired Keller Dorian and Panhuizen, two global power companies in the embossing roll manufacturing market. Waterschoot will retire from her role as Apex chief executive officer and begin her new position as director of Apex Embossing in May 2023. In this new position, Waterschoot will lead the new embossing division to global success, as she did Apex International.  

In her free time, Waterschoot enjoys the adventures of traveling, learning new languages, countries, and cultures. She finds her greatest joy and purpose at her favorite place in the world, a small orphanage in Nashik, India. Apex International has been supporting this orphanage, and many other social responsibility initiatives, as part of its core value of caring for the communities in which it operates.  

Waterschoot wrote in a personal letter to Apex colleagues: ‘I am happy to give my responsibilities to Mr. Ruud van Cuijk, who has earned our trust in the last ten years. It is terrific to have a new and young generation stepping up in my shoes to guide the company in the right direction for the coming years. I am convinced Apex International has a bright future with more challenges and possibilities to grow into a different and fast-changing future. I am proud to have been part of such a beautiful, growing, and exciting company. I look forward to leading the embossing division at Apex – Apex International needs other industries to stabilize future growth, and we see great possibilities with these products. Many say, “finally, I can retire, and now I can enjoy life”, but I think you have to enjoy every day of your life and not wait until you pass 60 years.  Thank you all again for your support and friendship.’ 

Ken Ralton, Apex chairman of the Board, stated: ‘Marian is an incredible leader and we appreciate all she has done for Apex International for the past three decades. Her kindness, knowledge, fierceness, and strategic mindset has made a great impact on the success and culture of Apex International. Her retirement as CEO is well deserved and we wish her nothing but the best in her new role as director of Apex Embossing.’