[0] Gemplus Appoints Antonio M. Perez as President and CEO.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 29, 2000

Gemplus, the world's number one provider of smart card-based security, e-business and wireless solutions, today announced the appointment of Antonio M. Perez as president and chief executive officer.

Mr. Perez will lead Gemplus' global operations and augment its organizational framework to support and sustain the Group's accelerating worldwide growth. He will also be responsible for designing and driving the Group's strategic direction. Mr. Perez joins Gemplus from Hewlett-Packard, where he served as corporate executive vice president and president of the Consumer Business and Digital Media Solutions, as well as head of Hewlett-Packard Corporate Marketing Group. Mr. Perez also served on Hewlett-Packard's Executive Council.

Marc Lassus, chairman of the board of Gemplus International, said: "Gemplus' core business is seeing explosive growth, driven by the wireless market. Today we are a truly global business -- and we are an evolving business, increasingly focusing on software and end-to-end customer solutions. As the world's leading GSM solutions provider, we are at the center of the exploding wireless communications and m-commerce markets. Simultaneously, we are at the center of the burgeoning IT security, e-commerce and e-payment solutions markets. In this context, I am delighted to announce the appointment of Antonio M. Perez to the role of president and CEO. Antonio is a world-class executive and brings us the experience and skills we need to maintain and expand our momentum. He has the proven ability to shape and drive change combined with 'hands on' practical expertise in running a global business."

In his previous roles at Hewlett-Packard as President, Consumer Business and Digital Media Solutions, Mr. Perez drove the company's strategy for the worldwide leading Ink-jet business digital imaging and e-publishing, establishing a series of strategic partnerships to make it a worldwide leader of this new and rapidly expanding market. He oversaw R&D, manufacturing, distribution, marketing, sales, support and services.

In 25 years with Hewlett-Packard, Mr. Perez rose to the company's Executive Council and was corporate vice president. As head of Hewlett-Packard's corporate marketing group, Mr. Perez was responsible for creating an integrated, revitalized brand for the previously product-centered company.

Mr. Perez said: "I am greatly looking forward to the challenges and possibilities presented by Gemplus. In just over a decade, Gemplus has grown from a dynamic start-up to become the world' s number one in the high growth smart card industry. As the industry leader, Gemplus has a great pedigree and a terrific presence. I am proud to be part of the team that is shaping an even better future for Gemplus, our customers and the millions of people who rely on Gemplus solutions every day to make their transactions more secure and convenient."

Mr. Perez has asked Bertrand Cambou, Gemplus COO, to assist him in the day-to-day managerial aspects of his role within the newly created Office of the President.

About Gemplus

Gemplus S.A. (www.gemplus.com) is the world's leading provider of smart card-based solutions. Gemplus sells magnetic stripe cards, memory and microprocessor-based smart cards, smart contactless cards, electronic tags and smart objects. The company designs and markets software, development tools and readers. Gemplus also provides consulting, training and personalization services to deliver the industry's most comprehensive and flexible card-based solutions to its developers, distributors, partners, and customers.

With sales of over $US817 million in 1999, Gemplus employs almost 6,300 people in 17 manufacturing facilities, 7 R&D centres and 41 sales and marketing offices located in more than 30 countries around the world. Founded in 1988, Gemplus has successfully implemented portable and secure smart card-based solutions to simplify applications such as public and wireless communications, financial transactions, loyalty, transportation, education, healthcare, identity, physical access control, pay TV, electronic commerce, Internet security, logical access control and information technology.

Note to Editors: Gemplus is a registered trademark of Gemplus. GemXpresso and GemXplore are trademarks of Gemplus. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.