CEO Hans Kleis has resigned from Sharp Europe, citing "personal reasons". He leaves next month.

Kleis, a Dutchman, joined Sharp in 1992, starting his career as sales director at Sharp Electronics Benelux. After several management positions he was appointed as CEO Europe in October 2004.

Sharp pioneered LCD TVs, also in Europe, but recently Sony overtook the company to become the world's biggest maker of LCD TVs in 2006 in terms of revenue. Europe was the top region for LCD TVs last year holding a 39 per cent share, according to DisplaySearch. In Plasma TVs Sharp currently is behind Philips.

Doug Koshima, group general manager International Business Group of Sharp Corporation Japan, today honoured Kleis's work at Sharp. He consolidated Sharp as European manufacturing base with a new LCD plant in Torun, Poland, while Sharp Europe saw a boost in turnover.

Toshiyuki Tajima, former managing director of the Polish plant, will succeed Kleis.