PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 16, 2005--Cross Match Technologies, Inc., a leading global provider of fingerprint and palm print identification solutions, has announced the appointment of The Honorable James W. Ziglar, former Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and a senior executive at UBS Financial Services, Inc., as its new CEO. Ziglar joins Cross Match to continue the successful efforts of former CEO, Ted Johnson, in making Cross Match the preeminent biometric enterprise. Ziglar will help take the company - which recently combined with Smiths Heimann Biometrics GmbH - to the next level, positioning the company strategically and financially for global biometric industry leadership.
Working with Cross Match's Board of Directors, Ted Johnson hand picked Ziglar as his successor. Mr. Johnson noted that, "in searching for a new CEO, we specifically sought an accomplished businessman with significant marketing experience to complement our large stable of quality engineers; Jim Ziglar fits the description perfectly. Jim brings exceptional expertise in working with government and financial markets and in managing large organizations. As we continue our accelerated expansion, Jim's business acumen and management skills will enable us to capitalize on the vast opportunities for biometric solutions both domestically and globally and achieve our overall goals. I have known Jim personally for more than 20 years and could not be more pleased with his association with Cross Match." Ziglar and Johnson will work together during a transition period after which Johnson will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board focusing on financing matters (including an IPO), strategic acquisitions, joint ventures, partnerships and major relationships with larger partners.
Upon graduation from George Washington University Law School, Ziglar served as a Law Clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Harry A. Blackmun. He then worked in the municipal finance area both as an attorney and investment banker until President Reagan appointed him as Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Water and Science. Ziglar subsequently returned to the municipal finance business where he developed strong relationships with state and local officials and, as a Managing Director, served on Paine Webber's firm-wide Operating Committee and as Chairman of the firm's Municipal Securities Group Operating Committee. He was recruited back into government service and was elected the 35th Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the United States Senate where he served for three years as the Senate's business manager and chief protocol and law enforcement officer. Ziglar was nominated by President Bush and unanimously confirmed by the Senate in August 2001 as Commissioner of the INS; he served until the INS was abolished and its functions incorporated into the Department of Homeland Security. Ziglar has been a Fellow at Harvard University and was also on the faculty of the George Washington University Law School. He has been a consultant to Cross Match for the last two years and joins the company from UBS's municipal finance department.
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