SA’s Sappi appoints CEO for Europe

JOHANNESBURG – Sappi , the world’s biggest maker of fine paper, said yesterday it had appointed Berry Wiersum as Chief Executive Officer of its European operations, replacing Wolfgang Pfarl, who will be retiring.

Wiersum joins Sappi Fine Paper Europe (SFPE) on January 15 for a familiarisation period until the end-March 2007, when he will take over as Chief Executive of SFPE. Shares in Sappi traded 0,44 per cent higher at 114 rand, beating a flat blue chip Top-40 index.Sappi, which makes the kind of paper used in glossy magazines, said last November it would cut jobs and costs in Europe as part of plans to save 170 million euros in two years, but gave no detail of how it would save most of that cash.The company, which has its key operations in Africa, Europe and North America, also announced wide-ranging changes and promotions at its Southern African businesses, naming Jan Labuschagne as the head of the unit starting Jan.1 this year.Nampa-ReutersShares in Sappi traded 0,44 per cent higher at 114 rand, beating a flat blue chip Top-40 index.Sappi, which makes the kind of paper used in glossy magazines, said last November it would cut jobs and costs in Europe as part of plans to save 170 million euros in two years, but gave no detail of how it would save most of that cash.The company, which has its key operations in Africa, Europe and North America, also announced wide-ranging changes and promotions at its Southern African businesses, naming Jan Labuschagne as the head of the unit starting Jan.1 this year.Nampa-Reuters