| Mon 14 May 2007, 9:00 | | SAP- Sappi Limited - Sappi appoints new Chief Exec |
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SAP- Sappi Limited - Sappi appoints new Chief Executive Officer
Sappi Limited
Share code: SAP
ISIN: ZAE000006284
Sappi appoints new Chief Executive Officer
Sappi Limited announced today that Roeloff Jacobus (Ralph) Boettger (45),
currently an executive director of Imperial Holdings Limited, will join Sappi on
the 1st of July this year as chief executive officer.
Ralph Boettger is a chartered accountant by training with a wide general
management experience. At the age of 34 he was appointed chief executive officer
of Safair and the next year appointed to the executive committee of SAFREN
Limited. Since 1998 he has been with Imperial Holdings when Imperial acquired
Safair and since 2002 he has been an executive director of Imperial Holdings
with responsibility for their local and international logistics operations, the
aviation division and the heavy commercial vehicle distribution operations. His
field of responsibility encompassed businesses operating in Southern Africa,
numerous European countries, the Middle East and Asia. He is well versed in
managing an operation with diverse cultures. Ralph Boettger is a South African
citizen and lives in Johannesburg.
Sappi said today that Ralph Boettger will join the company on the 1st of July
and after a short familiarization period he will assume executive responsibility
of the Sappi group. At that time Sappi chairman Eugene van As, who has been
acting as chief executive for the past 13 months, will revert to a non-executive
role.
Sappi also announced today that Eugene van As would retire from the board of
Sappi Limited at the annual general meeting in March 2008. The process of
electing a new chairman will start soon.
In an interview today Ralph Boettger said that he was very excited about joining
Sappi Limited, "I was attracted by the group`s global footprint, its strong
history of success and the tremendous upside potential that the business has to
grow stakeholder wealth as well as opportunities for the people in the group. I
look forward to working with the Sappi team".
Sappi chairman Eugene van As said today "The board was delighted that Ralph
Boettger has agreed to join Sappi. He is an energetic, hands-on executive with a
passion for business and an impeccable track record. I know he will get
unqualified support from the Sappi team and will get the best out of all of
them".
End
Note to the Editors:
Biographical information
Roeloff Jacobus (Ralph) Boettger
Born on 18 May 1961, Roeloff Jacobus (Ralph) Boettger, a South African citizen,
was educated at Potchefstroom University (now the University of the North West),
where he completed B.Acc and B.Acc (Hons) degrees before qualifying as a
Chartered Accountant in 1989.
He joined Safair in 1991 as Financial Manager before being appointed CEO of
Safair in 1996. He was appointed to the Executive Committees of Safmarine
Limited (1996) and SAFREN Limited (1997). He continued as CEO of Safair after
the company was acquired by the Imperial Group in 1998.
In 2001 he was appointed to the executive committee of Imperial Holdings with
executive responsibilities for the local and international logistics operations,
the aviation division and the heavy commercial vehicle distribution operations.
He was appointed to the Board of Imperial Holdings in 2002.
He is married to Ronel, and they have a young son.
His interests include flying and game watching.
CAREER SUMMARY
1986-1989 KPMG - Aiken & Peat - Articled Clerk.
1989 - 1991 Financial Manager of Jacksons Metals (Macsteel Group)
1991-1994 Financial Manager of Safair
1994-1996 General Manager Aircraft Charters and Leasing of Safair
CEO of Safair
Appointed to Executive Committee of Safmarine Limited
Appointed to Executive Committee of SAFREN Limited
1998-present Imperial Holdings
1998-2001 CEO of Safair
2001-present Appointed to executive committee of Imperial Holdings as
Executive Director responsible for:
Aviation division
Logistics division
Tyco Trucks
Lectrolite
Imperial Commercials - UK
2002 Appointed to the Board of Imperial Holdings
For more information on Sappi visit www.sappi.com
More about Sappi
Sappi is the world`s leading producer of coated fine paper, and whilst this
business represents approximately two-thirds of Sappi`s total sales, the company
also has significant businesses in pulp, coated speciality paper, packaging
grades and uncoated fine paper. Sappi Forest Products, the forests, pulp,
packaging and newsprint business based in South Africa, is also the world`s
largest producer of chemical cellulose (dissolving pulp). Sappi is a global
company with over 15,000 employees and production facilities on four continents,
in nine countries and customers in over 100 countries.
The group is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa. Sappi is listed on JSE
Limited (SAP), the New York Stock Exchange (SPP) and the London Stock Exchange
(SAZ).
Johannesburg, 14 May 2007
ENDS
Issued by:
Brunswick South Africa on behalf of Sappi Limited
Tel + 27 (0)11 268 5750
Fax + 27 (0)11 268 5747
For further information
Andre Oberholzer
Group Head Corporate Affairs
Sappi Limited
Tel +27 11 407 8044
Fax +27 11 403 8236
Andre.Oberholzer@sappi.com
Date: 14/05/2007 09:00:01 Produced by the JSE SENS Department.
