North American Morpho Systems Inc. names Jean-Marc Suchier as new president and chief executive officer.

TACOMA, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 10, 1996--North American Morpho Systems Inc. (Morpho) of Tacoma, today announced that Jean-Marc Suchier has been named as its president and CEO.

Suchier replaces Xavier Hubert, who is assuming a new position within Morpho's parent company, SAGEM, located in Paris. Morpho is a high-technology imaging corporation specializing in computerized fingerprint matching systems.

The role is a familiar one for Suchier, who held the position of CEO from the company's founding in 1985 through 1989. His 25 years of experience in the computer industry were instrumental in bringing the company its first major contracts with law enforcement agencies in Tacoma, Oklahoma City, New York state, New Jersey, Missouri and Hawaii. Suchier's last seven years have been spent at SAGEM in France, where he managed research and development operations.

The change is part of a recently announced restructuring within the parent company. Morpho has become part of SAGEM's newly formed Defense and Security Division, which will use the company's fingerprint matching technology in a variety of security applications. Potential markets include document security, national defense, and authentication of transactions over telecommunication channels such as the Internet.

"Suchier is the right choice to lead Morpho at this time," said Daniel Dupuy, chairman of SAGEM's Defense and Security Division. "He is tricultural: he understands the North American market, and at the same time, knows the international marketplace and the parent company, SAGEM. Suchier has been groomed for this position and is best suited to lead this company into its future position as the leader in both the forensic and civil biometric markets."

Suchier received his Computer Science degree from Ecole Centrale de Paris in 1970. In addition to his prior experience with Morpho and SAGEM, he has held management positions in SINORG, a French economic development corporation, and the aviation firm Avions Marcel Dassault.

Morpho is a subsidiary of SAGEM, a major French technology corporation specializing in communications and aerospace. Morpho is a leading provider of automated finger identification systems (AFIS) for state and local law enforcement agencies throughout North America.

Morpho also provides fingerprint card conversion services for its customers and those of its European parent company, which markets imaging applications and services in other parts of the world. To date, Morpho has converted more than 30 million fingerprint records for agencies worldwide.

Morpho currently employs 350 people throughout the United States. The company has recently expanded into the civil biometric identification market, providing a statewide finger imaging system to the New York State Department of Social Services. Morpho is also pursuing additional federal business and is a member of the Lockheed Martin team that is developing an AFIS system for the FBI.

CONTACT: North American Morpho Systems Inc.

Linda Coyle, 206/383-3617, (fax) 206/272-2934