PORCELANOSA Group, Spain's Largest Exporter of Tile, Bath and Home Accessories, Appoints Clifton Ashley

PORCELANOSA(R) Group (Villareal, Spain), one of the world's leading manufacturers of porcelain and

ceramic tile as well as bath and home fixtures, today announced the

appointment of Clifton J. Ashley to the position of General Manager, Northwest

Region, for the company.

    The PORCELANOSA Group generates approximately 1 billion dollars per year

in revenue and was recognized as one of the world's most respected companies

in the Fifth Annual Financial Times/PricewaterhouseCoopers World's Most

Respected Companies Survey (number 5 among retail companies, placing ahead of

such well-known companies as Home Depot(R), Sherwin Williams(R) and

Benetton(R)).

    Companies named to the list are global players with distinctive brands

that have exhibited strong leadership both internally and in their

marketplace, a long-term track record of growth, financial performance and

delivering shareholder value as well as integrity and commitment to

environmental sustainability.

    Mr. Ashley brings more than two decades of worldwide global sales and

marketing expertise to PORCELANOSA, with major success in establishing

Novell(R) Latin America as its General Manager for 10 years, in addition to

his tenure at Sun Microsystems and senior management roles with ActivCard(TM),

PocketServer(TM) and Servgate(TM) Technologies.

    Mr. Ashley's responsibilities at PORCELANOSA include sales and marketing

oversight as well as operational management for Northern California, Oregon,

Washington, Utah, Idaho and other parts of the Western United States.

Mr. Ashley graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1980

with a Bachelor of Arts degree.  He also holds a Masters of International

Business Management (MBA) from the American Graduate School of International

Management in Glendale, Arizona.

    "Clifton brings unique and focused perspective as well as invaluable

management experience to PORCELANOSA's Western Regional US operations," said

Joaquin Frances, President and CEO of PorVen USA, the holding company for all

PORCELANOSA business units in the United States.  "Creating new sales and

marketing opportunities as PORCELANOSA extends its brand into the United

States are  key goals for the Western Region and Clifton's business and brand

expertise will be an integral part of our strategy and success as we replicate

PORCELANOSA's success in Europe here in the US.  We are fortunate and proud to

have him as a member of our worldwide management team."

    PORCELANOSA Group is the $1 billion global leader in tile, bath and home

fixtures -- with 350 showrooms around the world, the PORCELANOSA Group

comprises six separate companies: PORCELANOSA itself; Venis and L'Antic

Colonial, also creators of high-quality wall, floor and decorative tiles;

Gama-Decor, specializing in bathroom furniture, mirrors and accessories;

System-Pool, manufacturer of conventional and hydromassage baths, sauna-shower

enclosures and pulsating shower columns; and Butech, manufacturer of bonding

and grouting materials, as well as ventilated facades and flooring.  Further

information on PORCELANOSA's Bay Area showrooms in San Jose and Sacramento may

be found at http://www.porcelanosa-sf.com