US’ Domtar announces CEO transition plan

US’ Domtar, a provider of fibre-based products, has announced that president and CEO John Williams will retire on June 30, 2023. Additionally, to continue Domtar’s forward momentum, Steve Henry, senior vice president of packaging, has been appointed to the role of executive vice president (EVP) and chief operating officer (COO) effective immediately.

Williams has planned to leave the company after fourteen years in his leadership role; however, he will continue as a part-time advisor regarding strategic growth opportunities. As EVP and COO, Henry will lead the pulp, paper and packaging operations and commercial functions at Domtar, while Williams will continue to lead all corporate functions until his retirement, the company said in a media statement.

US’ Domtar, a provider of fibre-based products, has announced that president and CEO John Williams will retire on June 30, 2023. Additionally, to continue Domtar’s forward momentum, Steve Henry, senior vice president of packaging, has been appointed to the role of executive vice president (EVP) and chief operating officer (COO) effective immediately.

Williams has served as Domtar’s president and CEO since 2009. During his tenure, he redefined the company as a fibre innovator, growing in markets like pulp, engineered materials, thermal paper and containerboard while exploring absorbent hygiene end uses and biomaterials. Williams served on the board of directors of American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) and the Paper + Packaging Board as both member and chairperson. He also serves on the Boards of Owens Corning and Form Technologies.

Henry is an experienced and innovative leader who is well-respected at Domtar and in the industry for his in-depth knowledge of Domtar’s manufacturing assets, his decisive nature and his people-oriented leadership style. Throughout his twenty-seven-year career in the forest products and paper industry he held a variety of mill and corporate positions at Georgia-Pacific, Weyerhaeuser, and International Paper before joining Domtar in 2011.

His most recent assignment has been to lead Domtar’s entry into the packaging business, building the business structure needed to produce and sell containerboard with a winning customer value proposition. A $350 million capital project to convert Domtar’s Kingsport, Tennessee paper mill to produce 600,000 tons of 100 per cent recycled containerboard is expected to start up by the end of the year.

“On behalf of Domtar and the management committee, I want to thank Williams for his leadership and commitment to our employees, customers and communities over the past fourteen years. He joined the company during a recession and has navigated ever-changing industry dynamics and economic fluctuations to transform Domtar into the strong pulp, paper and packaging company that it is today. I am honoured to build on his legacy and continue serving our stakeholders,” Henry said.

“Henry has been a smart and dependable leader during his career at Domtar. I have relied on his expertise over the years, most recently as he engineered Domtar’s entry into the packaging business. In 2023, we will celebrate our 175th year in business. I am confident that Steve is the right leader for this time in Domtar’s history,” Williams.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (GK)