| Mon 18 Oct 2004, 15:30 | | Sappi appoints Veronica Hagen as President and CEO |
|
Sappi Limited announces new President and Chief Executive Officer of Sappi Fine
Paper North America
Sappi Limited
(Registration number 1936/008963/06)
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
Share code: SAP ISIN: ZAE000006284
(`Sappi` or the `Company`)
Press Release
Johannesburg, 18 October 2004
Sappi appoints Veronica Hagen as President and Chief Executive Officer of its
North American operations
Sappi, the world`s leading producer of coated fine paper, today announced that
Veronica `Ronee` M Hagen, currently Chief Customer Officer of Alcoa Inc, has
been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Sappi Fine Paper North
America. Ms Hagen, previous owner of Metal Sales, a business that sold ferrous
and non-ferrous metals, as well as metal processing and fabricating equipment,
sold her business in 1996. She joined Alumax as Executive Vice President and in
1998 became part of Alcoa with Alcoa`s acquisition of Alumax. At Alcoa, Ms
Hagen was Business Unit President of Engineered Products with full profit and
loss accountability for 21 operating plants. She was elected an officer of the
company in 2000.
Commenting on her appointment Jonathan Leslie, Chief Executive Officer of Sappi
Limited said:
`With a strong track record in operational management and commercial leadership,
Ronee Hagen comes highly qualified to lead one of Sappi`s most important
businesses. She has proven global business leadership skills and experience and
this, combined with her strong focus on world-class customer service, change
management and team building, will enable her to take Sappi`s North American
business forward`.
Ms Hagen, an American, is currently based in Chicago. She has a Bachelor of
Arts in International Relations from the University of Southern California, and
has participated in an Executive Education programme in Finance from the Wharton
School, University of Pennsylvania and an Executive Leadership programme at
Harvard University. She will succeed Dr Job, who was seconded as President and
Chief Executive Officer after the resignation of Kathy Walters whilst the search
for a long-term replacement took place. Dr Job will continue in his role as
Technical Director of Sappi, and will be available to effect a smooth transition
to his successor.
Ms Hagen joins Sappi on 01 November 2004.
ENDS
Notes to editors
About Sappi Limited
A global leader in the pulp and paper industry, Sappi Limited, headquartered in
Johannesburg, South Africa, conducts its business through two business units,
Sappi Fine Paper and Sappi Forest Products. This structure facilitates the
group`s commitment to excellence, and is focused on serving its growing
international markets efficiently and effectively. World leaders, Sappi Fine
Paper are managed through regional business units: Sappi Fine Paper North
America, Sappi Fine Paper Europe and Sappi Fine Paper South Africa. Sappi Fine
Paper produces a wide range of coated fine paper brands with an international
reputation for quality and innovation. Sappi`s Magno brand, for example, is the
most widely sold coated fine paper brand in the world. The company also produces
a range of uncoated graphic and business papers, coated and uncoated speciality
papers, as well as casting release papers. Sappi Forest Products is a fully
integrated pulp and commodity paper Southern African business owning or managing
approximately 540,000 hectares of plantations. One of its operations, Sappi
Saiccor is the world`s leading producer of chemical cellulose used mainly in the
manufacture of viscose staple fibre. Sappi Trading, based in Hong Kong, operates
a trading network for the international sales and distribution of the products
of the two divisions outside their core operating regions. Sappi has
manufacturing operations in eight countries, sales offices in 50 countries and
customers in over 100 countries around the world.
About Sappi Fine Paper North America
Sappi Fine Paper North America is the leading North American producer of coated
fine paper used in premium magazines, catalogues, books and high-end print
advertising. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Sappi Fine Paper North
America is known for innovation and quality, pioneering many breakthroughs in
the coated fine paper industry, such as two-sided coated paper, dull coated
paper and lightweight coated paper. Its brand names Lustro, Strobe, Patina,
Opus, Somerset, McCoy and Vintage are some of the industry`s most respected.
Sappi Fine Paper North America is a division of Sappi Limited.
Learn more about Sappi at http://www.sappi.com
A photograph of Ms Hagen and a copy of her CV can be accessed at
http://www.sappi.com/newsroom
Issued by
Brunswick on behalf of Sappi Limited
Tel +27 (0) 11 442 8803 (South Africa)
Tel +44 (0) 207 404 5959 (London)
For further information
Andre Oberholzer
Group Head Corporate Affairs
Sappi Limited, Johannesburg
Tel +27 (0) 11 407 8044
Fax +27 (0) 11 403 8236
Mobile +27 (0) 83 235 2973
e-mail andre.oberholzer@sappi.com
Date: 18/10/2004 03:00:15 PM
Produced by the JSE SENS Department
