(ANN ARBOR, MI USA) -- NSF International today announced the promotion of Koen Bontinck as vice president international operations.  This latest promotion continues the expansion of NSF’s service offerings to a range of international markets. 

In his new position, Bontinck will oversee the increasing international growth of the company’s health and safety services in Europe, Middle East and Africa as well as manage NSF’s expanding businesses in Asia and South America.  He will continue to report to Kevan P. Lawlor, president and CEO of NSF International.

“To help us extend our leadership position in public health around the world, we intend to focus locally within individual nations to meet the unique needs of regulators, consumers and industry,” said Lawlor.  "As vice president of international operations, Koen will be responsible for positioning NSF International as the premier provider of public health and safety risk management solutions to continue NSF’s rapid growth overseas.”

Since Bontinck joined NSF in 2005 as managing director of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), he has developed and implemented a successful global strategy that better positions NSF in local markets and provides NSF clients in the EMEA region with increased levels of service and quality.

“I look forward to expanding our global reach by providing certification services that streamline the import/export process for a range of international manufacturers of food and water products while continuing our commitment to protecting public health,” said Bontinck.

Throughout his career, Bontinck has held numerous positions in business development and general management.  Prior to joining NSF, he served as managing director in charge of overall performance improvement for subsidiaries in Belgium and France at the Tauw Group, a Dutch multi-national environmental consulting company offering environmental, civil engineering and laboratory services worldwide. He was also managing director for the Belgian subsidiary of Bureau Veritas Quality International (BVQI), a large multinational technical service provider offering certification and inspection services. 

Bontinck has a master’s degree in safety engineering from the Free University (VUB) in Brussels (BE) and an MSc degree in electromechanical engineering from the Catholic University (KUL) of Leuven (BE).

NSF has office and laboratory locations worldwide to help clients with international public health and safety regulation issues.  For more information on an office near you, visit http://www.nsf.org/business/newsroom/pdf/WorldList_Final.pdf.

About NSF International: NSF International, an independent, not-for-profit organization, helps protect you by certifying products and writing standards for food, water, air and consumer goods (www.nsf.org). Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting public health and safety worldwide.  NSF is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Food and Water Safety and Indoor Environment. Additional services include safety audits for the food and water industries, management systems registrations delivered through NSF International Strategic Registrations, Ltd., organic certification provided by Quality Assurance International and education through the NSF Center for Public Health Education.