Hayes has twenty-five years of industry experience and joins the company from PPG Industries Europe Sàrl, where he held the post of general manager, EMEA for PPG Packaging Coatings.

Rudi Lenz, president and chief executive of Sun Chemical, said: "Greg has delivered great successes in a challenging market segment through the implementation of world class techniques in selling, innovation, product quality and people.

"I am truly excited by Greg's decision to join Sun Chemical. He is a highly experienced business manager who will lead some of our most important businesses to greater success in challenging times."

Hayes will be based in the UK and will lead Sun's businesses in the UK, Ireland and the Nordic countries, its global digital inks business, and the Sun Branding Solutions packaging design services business.

He will also co-ordinate the Screen, Circuits and Industrial inks business across Europe.