Caza, who helped co-found Fespa in 1962, steps down after 24 years on the board including two tenures as Fespa president, from 1996 to 1999 and 2000 to 2002. Ricardo Delgado had been a board member since 1996 and was president of the association from 2002 to 2005.

Current Fespa president Lascelle Barrow said: "I have had the privilege of working with Michel and Ricardo for many years as fellow Fespa board members and on behalf of the entire Fespa community. I thank both of them for their long and energetic contribution to the growth and success of Fespa and its members.

"We owe a particular debt to Michel, a 'founding father' of Fespa without whom we would not be the strong global business support organisation we are today. His passion for print, generosity with knowledge, commercial drive, creative spirit and deep commitment to the environment, all give the Fespa board an important legacy to drive forward."

He added: "For his part, Ricardo Rodriguez has made an invaluable contribution to the development of Fespa's relationships in Latin America, most notably working with the Mexican association and Conlatingraf."

Caza and Delgado have been replaced on the Fespa board by Thomas Struckmeier of German national association BVDM and Christophe Aussenac, who is president of the autonomous Fespa France Association.

Struckmeier is also chief executive of German screen and digital printing firm Blase, while Aussenac is a founding director of French sign, display and POS specialist Autorise Toute Creativité (ATC).

Both new appointments were approved by the general assembly of Fespa's 37 member associations in Bangkok, Thailand this month. The assembly also confirmed current board member Yasar Guvenen as president elect, to take over the role from Barrow in 2015.