Charles Whitaker Assumes Senior Position With Crown Vantage Printing and Publishing Papers Business.

OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 10, 1999--

Robert A. Olah, president and chief executive officer of Crown Vantage Inc. (OTCBB:CVAN), announced today that he has selected Charles E. Whitaker as the company's new senior vice president of Printing and Publishing Papers.

Whitaker, 42, assumes leadership of sales, marketing and manufacturing at Crown Vantage's six mills in the United States and Scotland that market specialized printing papers. Prior to accepting the position, Whitaker worked for 9 years for specialty papermaker Fox River, most recently as vice president of sales. Prior to that he served as Fox River's vice president of administration.

Sales for the Crown Vantage Printing and Publishing Papers Business in 1998 totaled nearly $500 million. The extensive product line includes coated papers for magazines, catalogs and advertising inserts; and an array of premium uncoated papers used for annual reports, greeting cards, financial printing, book publishing, and other commercial printing and converting applications.

"Charlie brings a rich mix of experience to Crown Vantage," Olah said. "His reputation in the paper industry and among customers is very positive. Additionally he has a breadth of business experience that, as a member of the senior management team, will be invaluable as we expedite implementation of our strategy to be a marketing-driven supplier of high-value papers in niches that we uniquely can fill."

In addition to his Fox River experience, Whitaker spent nine years with Arthur Andersen, where as a senior account manager he was a financial consultant and established an office productivity practice.

Whitaker earned an MBA at the University of Wisconsin and is a certified public accountant.

"Bob Olah is building a dynamic new Crown Vantage," Whitaker said. "I look forward to being a part of his management team and helping to implement his vision for the future."

Crown Vantage is one of the world's leading manufacturers of value-added papers for printing, publishing and packaging. With nine mills internationally, the company has capacity to manufacture more than 750,000 tons of specialized papers per year. The company's diverse products are tailored for the special needs of target markets. End users include specialty magazines and catalogs, financial printing and corporate communications, packaging and product labels, coffee filters and disposable medical garments - and hundreds more. For more information, visit www.crownvantage.com.