Checkpoint names CEO

(Reuters) - Retail security provider Checkpoint Systems Inc (CKP.N) named Robert van der Merwe chief executive officer, effective immediately, and forecast 2008 earnings above analysts' expectations.

Merwe, a member of its board, succeeds George Off, who will remain chairman, the company said in a statement.

For 2008, Checkpoint expects to earn $1.65 to $1.75 a share and sees double digit revenue growth for the year. Analysts on average were expecting earnings of $1.60 a share, before items, according to Reuters Estimates.

(Reporting by Amulya Nagaraj in Bangalore; Editing by Deepak Kannan)