Changes to Stora Enso’s Consumer Board and Packaging Solutions divisions

Packaging Solutions

Stora Enso is merging its container board business in the Packaging Solutions division with the Consumer Board division, creating a new Packaging Materials division. The remaining business in Packaging Solutions together with Stora Enso’s recently created formed fibre unit, will constitute a more focused Packaging Solutions division. The change is effective as of 1 January 2020. Based on the new structure, 2018 sales for the Packaging Materials division were approximately EUR3400 million and for Packaging Solutions EUR700 million. The restated figures for the new divisional structure will be published during the first quarter of 2020.

Hannu Kasurinen is appointed executive vice president, head of Consumer Board and member of the Group Leadership Team, with immediate effect and as of 1 January 2020, executive vice president, head of Packaging Materials. Gilles van Nieuwenhuyzen will leave his position as executive vice president Packaging Solutions on 6 December 2019 to pursue new career opportunities outside the company. The search for a new divisional head for Packaging Solutions will be initiated. David Ekberg, currently senior vice president and head of Business Unit Corrugated Nordics in the division, is taking on the role as acting head of Packaging Solutions as of 6 December 2019. ‘As the development towards a circular bioeconomy is accelerating in society, we are creating an organisation that further strengthens our ability to drive innovation and sustainability with a common agenda. The Packaging Materials division will provide an even stronger customer offering for converters, brand owners and retailers containing both virgin and recycled board material. For Packaging Solutions, we are increasing our focus on growing new services and packaging solutions as well as innovation collaborations throughout the value chain for developing new renewable packaging. One example is our new formed fibre business, which will be included in the Packaging Solutions division. We will also be able to focus more on renewable packaging design,’ says Stora Enso president and CEO Annica Bresky. Hannu Kasurinen was previously senior vice president, Liquid Packaging and Carton Board in the Consumer Board division. He has held several leadership positions in Stora Enso, including group treasurer, senior vice president of Strategy and executive vice president of Wood Products division. ‘Hannu Kasurinen has long and diverse experience of working in demanding leadership positions in Stora Enso, previously including also a position in the Group Leadership Team. I am very happy to appoint him to our Group Leadership Team again. I am confident that his experience will be a valuable asset to the team, when we continue on our transformation journey as the renewable materials company,’ added Annica. ‘I am looking forward to continuing to build our Packaging Materials business together with our customers. Circularity is an integral part of Stora Enso’s business and a key driver for our product development. We will continue to innovate and answer consumers’ expectations for renewable, recyclable, fibre based packaging materials with a low carbon footprint,’ Hannu Kasurinen concluded.